Richard M. Kessel

Richard Kessel was appointed as Director and Chairperson of the Nassau County Interim Finance Authority by Governor Kathy Hochul on October 13, 2023.

Mr. Kessel began his career in public service as Executive Director of the State Consumer Protection Board from 1984 to 1995. He was a professor of Consumer Studies at Five Towns College from 1995 to 1997, served on the Board of Trustees for Nassau Community College from 1981 to 2000, and was previously appointed as a Director of the Authority from 2000 to 2007.

Mr. Kessel served two terms as Chairman of the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) Board of Trustees. During his first term from 1989 to 1995, he was responsible for the decommissioning of the Shoreham Nuclear Power Station. He finished his tenure at LIPA in 2007 as its President and Chief Executive Officer where he led an unprecedented effort to implement clean energy and energy efficiency strategies that helped increase Long Island’s renewable energy resources while helping residential and commercial customers lower their energy use and bills. He also served as Chairman of the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency from 2018 to 2022.

Mr. Kessel attended Colgate University, received a bachelor’s degree from New York University and his master’s degree from Columbia University.