Century Housing President & CEO Ronald Griffith Announces Retirement
Ronald Griffith Stepping Down After 26 Years of Service to Century Housing as President & CEO and General Counsel
CULVER CITY, CALIF. — The President & CEO and General Counsel of Century Housing, Ronald Griffith, recently announced his retirement from the organization, effective September 2, 2024. Mr. Griffith has served as President & CEO of Century Housing since 2007. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel, the latter role which he also held concurrently as President & CEO. Mr. Griffith has been at Century Housing since 1998.
“A simple email cannot convey the enormous sense of pride I have for what Century has accomplished over these past years financing and creating safe and dignified apartment homes for tens of thousands of our most vulnerable community residents,” wrote Mr. Griffith in his exit announcement to staff. “I look forward to Century’s continued success in the future.”
During Mr. Griffith’s tenure, Century Housing experienced rapid growth and transformation. Century Housing Corporation expanded its lending activities across California, financing the creation and preservation of more than 58,000 affordable and workforce homes and achieving “AA” issuer credit ratings from S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings. Also, Century Villages at Cabrillo grew at the site of a former Naval housing base near the Port of Long Beach into a thriving supportive community with over 1,500 residents on any given night. Century Housing’s development affiliate, Century Affordable Development, Inc., also advanced the group’s mission by leading and managing key real estate projects, including master-planned supportive housing communities at the West Los Angeles VA North Campus and Rancho San Pedro in the South Bay, and other affordable housing properties across Greater Los Angeles.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, we thank Ron for his many years of service and dedication to Century. We wish him well as he embarks on his new adventure in retirement,” said Kristina Olson, Chair of the Board of Directors of Century Housing.
The Board has appointed Daniel Lopez, a founding Century Board member, as Interim President & CEO, effective immediately to ensure a smooth transition. Mr. Lopez has served as the Chair of Century Housing’s Loan Committee for most of its history. He has also been an independent consultant in affordable housing finance and development for more than 40 years, and previously served as President & CEO of the California Community Reinvestment Corporation, which funds low-income multifamily housing throughout the state. Mr. Lopez received the 2024 California Housing Hall of Fame “Lifetime Achievement” Award from the California Housing Consortium.
Century Housing’s Board of Directors will conduct a national search for a new President & CEO. Century will also engage best-in-class law firms for corporate- and real estate-related legal matters until the hiring of a new in-house General Counsel.
About Century Housing Century Housing is a group of nonprofit affiliates committed to a single cause: affordable housing. For nearly 30 years, Century has financed, built, and operated exceptional affordable housing throughout California. Since its origins as a state agency, Century has invested more than $2.8 billion to create and preserve 58,000+ homes; developed nearly 2,300 Century-owned affordable homes; and served and housed nearly 3,600 people in its properties. Century’s efforts have spurred the creation of thousands of construction jobs every year.
CULVER CITY, CALIF. — The President & CEO and General Counsel of Century Housing, Ronald Griffith, recently announced his retirement from the organization, effective September 2, 2024. Mr. Griffith has served as President & CEO of Century Housing since 2007. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel, the latter role which he also held concurrently as President & CEO. Mr. Griffith has been at Century Housing since 1998.
“A simple email cannot convey the enormous sense of pride I have for what Century has accomplished over these past years financing and creating safe and dignified apartment homes for tens of thousands of our most vulnerable community residents,” wrote Mr. Griffith in his exit announcement to staff. “I look forward to Century’s continued success in the future.”
During Mr. Griffith’s tenure, Century Housing experienced rapid growth and transformation. Century Housing Corporation expanded its lending activities across California, financing the creation and preservation of more than 58,000 affordable and workforce homes and achieving “AA” issuer credit ratings from S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings. Also, Century Villages at Cabrillo grew at the site of a former Naval housing base near the Port of Long Beach into a thriving supportive community with over 1,500 residents on any given night. Century Housing’s development affiliate, Century Affordable Development, Inc., also advanced the group’s mission by leading and managing key real estate projects, including master-planned supportive housing communities at the West Los Angeles VA North Campus and Rancho San Pedro in the South Bay, and other affordable housing properties across Greater Los Angeles.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, we thank Ron for his many years of service and dedication to Century. We wish him well as he embarks on his new adventure in retirement,” said Kristina Olson, Chair of the Board of Directors of Century Housing.
The Board has appointed Daniel Lopez, a founding Century Board member, as Interim President & CEO, effective immediately to ensure a smooth transition. Mr. Lopez has served as the Chair of Century Housing’s Loan Committee for most of its history. He has also been an independent consultant in affordable housing finance and development for more than 40 years, and previously served as President & CEO of the California Community Reinvestment Corporation, which funds low-income multifamily housing throughout the state. Mr. Lopez received the 2024 California Housing Hall of Fame “Lifetime Achievement” Award from the California Housing Consortium.
Century Housing’s Board of Directors will conduct a national search for a new President & CEO. Century will also engage best-in-class law firms for corporate- and real estate-related legal matters until the hiring of a new in-house General Counsel.
Ronald Griffith
Daniel Lopez
About Century Housing Century Housing is a group of nonprofit affiliates committed to a single cause: affordable housing. For nearly 30 years, Century has financed, built, and operated exceptional affordable housing throughout California. Since its origins as a state agency, Century has invested more than $2.8 billion to create and preserve 58,000+ homes; developed nearly 2,300 Century-owned affordable homes; and served and housed nearly 3,600 people in its properties. Century’s efforts have spurred the creation of thousands of construction jobs every year.
