Margaret M.L. Byrnes Named Next President & CEO of CASA of New Hampshire
Today, the CASA of New Hampshire Board of Directors announced that Margaret M.L. Byrnes has been selected as the organization’s next President and CEO following a comprehensive statewide and national search. Byrnes will succeed Marcia “Marty” Sink, CASA of NH’s founder and longtime leader, who announced in late 2025 that she will retire after nearly four decades leading the organization she built from the ground up.
Byrnes currently serves as Executive Director of the New Hampshire Municipal Association, where she oversees all aspects of the statewide nonprofit organization, including operations, finance, strategic planning, legal services, advocacy, and human resources. Since becoming Executive Director in 2019, she has led the organization through significant operational modernization, strategic planning, organizational growth, and complex legislative and public policy challenges.
A lawyer by training, Byrnes holds a Juris Doctor from the Massachusetts School of Law, where she graduated as valedictorian, and an MBA from the University of New Hampshire. She also brings deep experience in nonprofit leadership, governance, coalition-building, and statewide relationship management, along with a deep knowledge of NH communities, institutions, and public systems.
Importantly, Byrnes also brings a longstanding personal commitment to CASA’s mission. She has served as a CASA Guardian ad Litem volunteer since 2021 and currently serves as a peer mentor for new advocates.
“Margaret was the Board’s unanimous and enthusiastic choice following an extensive and highly competitive search,” said Evelyn Aissa, Co-Chair of the CASA of NH Board of Directors. “She is an exceptional leader with tremendous strategic capability, strong operational and financial acumen, and deep relationships across New Hampshire. Just as importantly, she brings genuine passion for CASA’s mission and a profound commitment to the children and families we serve. We are confident she is the right leader to guide CASA of NH into its next chapter.”
The Board’s Search Committee conducted multiple rounds of interviews and extensive due diligence before unanimously recommending Byrnes for the role.
“CASA’s mission speaks directly to the values that have guided both my professional and volunteer life,” Byrnes said. “Serving as a CASA volunteer has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life, and I have seen firsthand the extraordinary impact that advocates, staff, and supporters make for children navigating incredibly difficult circumstances. It is an incredible honor to have the opportunity to lead this organization and build upon the remarkable foundation Marty and the entire CASA community have created.”
Sink, who founded CASA of NH in 1989 and has served as its President and CEO ever since, said that “Leading CASA of New Hampshire has been the greatest privilege of my professional life. I am deeply grateful to our staff, volunteers, Board members, donors, and partners who have made this work possible over nearly four decades. I’m confident CASA’s next chapter will bright.”
Byrnes will begin her role as President and CEO on July 22, 2026. Sink will continue serving as President and CEO until that time to support a thoughtful leadership transition.
CASA of NH engaged Kittleman & Associates to conduct a search for its new CEO. Kittleman & Associates is a national executive search firm that specializes in the recruitment of CEOs for tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, public charities, and philanthropic organizations. Kittleman recruits leaders for the entire nonprofit sector, including advocacy and educational organizations and human services agencies. For more information, visit https://www.kittlemansearch.com/.
Founded in 1989, CASA of New Hampshire recruits, trains, and supports volunteer Guardians ad Litem who advocate for the best interests of children who have experienced abuse and neglect as they navigate the child protection and court systems. Today, more than 600 CASA volunteers serve children across all 10 counties in New Hampshire. Learn more at https://casanh.org/.
