Affordable housing developer The Bridgeport Neighborhood Trust has selected a new CEO, who it called a “successful cross-sectoral executive and social entrepreneur,” to take the reins of the nonprofit.

Noah Eliot Gotbaum conceived of and cofounded the New York Cares volunteer organization, acting as the inaugural board chairman and later as a long-time board member. Gotbaum also worked on redevelopment of downtown Brooklyn at the Forest City/Ratner Companies, and later oversaw investments in major Eastern European urban centers as the president and chief investment officer of the $240 million, U.S. government-backed OPIC Pioneer/Banc-One New Europe Property Fund. Gotbaum also runs own firm, New Spirit Capital, a fundraising and investment company focused on new markets, real estate and impact investing.

“Our executive search included over 100 candidates and we are very pleased to bring Noah’s experience, skill, and passion for nonprofit work to the Bridgeport community,” BNT Board President Kim Bianca Williams said in a statement. “BNT has been a leader in affordable housing and we look forward to expanding our methods of leading, empowering and changing neighborhoods under Noah’s leadership.”

Long-time BNT CEO Elizabeth Torres left the nonprofit this past fall

“I am thrilled to join BNT, and work with its great staff, its active and excellent Board, and its broad and terrific base of community stakeholders,” Gotbaum said in a statement. “There are tremendous opportunities to build on BNT’s manifold successes to grow the organization, and to creatively spur even stronger neighborhood and community development in Bridgeport and beyond.”