ARCHDIOCESE — Richard Kelly, a former finance official with several major corporations, has been appointed chief financial officer of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati by Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk. Steve Burger, former director of finance, becomes controller. He begins in the position Aug. 4.

Kelly comes to the archdiocese with a background that includes a law degree and a master’s degree in theology, as well as recent experience in teaching in Catholic schools at the high school and college level. He is a chartered financial analyst and a chartered property and casualty underwriter.

"I welcome Mr. Kelly cordially to the administrative offices of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati," Archbishop Pilarczyk said. "I know that he will earnestly contribute to the ongoing dedication and care for the faithful of the archdiocese that has characterized the administrative offices these many years."

Kelly earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Xavier University in 1977, a law degree from the University of Cincinnati in 1980 and a master’s degree in theology from Xavier in 1999.

As a captain in the U.S. Army, Kelly worked in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps from 1981-1987. He has been legal counsel and investment analyst at Pacholder Associates in Cincinnati, senior vice president and chief investment officer at Ohio Casualty Corp. in Fairfield, vice president and chief investment officer of National Grange Mutual Insurance Co. in Jacksonville, Fla., and senior vice president and chief investment officer of Safeco Insurance Co. in Seattle.

Since returning to Cincinnati from Seattle, where he managed a $12 billion invested asset portfolio for Safeco, Kelly has taught MBA courses at Xavier University as an adjunct professor of business law and religion classes at Mother of Mercy High School.