McGrath has a distinguished career at The Nature Conservancy (TNC) with more than 20 years of service to TNC's regional, national and international programs. Most recently, McGrath served as Acting Director of External Affairs in TNC's Washington D.C. office responsible for maintaining government partnerships and international alliances to advance conservation policy and secure program funding.

"Western Pennsylvania Conservancy has a rich history and outstanding national reputation for conserving land and places of special and unique interest," said McGrath. "I am honored and pleased to join the Conservancy in advancing its commitment to preserving a natural environment that maintains its natural diversity, resiliency and beauty. Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is a leader in recognizing that to achieve sustainable conservation, humankind and nature must co-exist. The Conservancy's focus on connecting people to the natural world makes it unique among conservation and environmental organizations."

McGrath's appointment, which was approved by a unanimous vote of Western Pennsylvania Conservancy's Board of Directors, will become effective April 11. "McGrath possesses a valuable combination of strong leadership, diverse conservation background and strategic visioning that WPC seeks to advance our work in western Pennsylvania," said WPC Board Chair Mike Boyle. "We have many challenges and opportunities in preserving and enhancing the natural health and beauty of our region. McGrath has the expertise and leadership we need to carry forward the tradition and goals of Western Pennsylvania Conservancy in conserving our precious natural resources for the benefit and enjoyment of this and future generations," said Boyle. "McGrath's national and international conservation experience will help us reach our goal of a sustainable region."

At The Nature Conservancy, McGrath was instrumental in setting the conservation agenda for the Great Lakes ecosystem and establishing the Ohio River basin ecosystem conservation effort as part of his responsibilities as Midwest/Canada Division Director. As a state director, McGrath led the development and implementation of statewide land and water conservation strategies. In Indiana he was instrumental in the implementation of a 7,200-acre prairie/wetland restoration project in the midst of a 25,000-acre national priority conservation area along the Indiana/Illinois border. While in Connecticut, he oversaw the planning and development of a four-state Connecticut River conservation project and implemented a 15,000-acre, $100 million forest conservation acquisition project, the largest in Connecticut's history.

McGrath was a McCluskey Fellow at the Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. He received master's degrees in environmental studies and geology from Indiana University, Bloomington, and a bachelor's degree in wildlife sciences from Purdue University.

McGrath will succeed Larry Schweiger, who served as WPC's president and CEO from 1996 to 2004 when he was elected president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. WPC Board Chairman Mike Boyle served as acting president while the Board of Directors conducted a national search for its new president.

As president and CEO, McGrath will be based at WPC's headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pa. and direct a staff of approximately 200 located there, and at WPC sites at Fallingwater in Mill Run, Fayette County, the Watershed Assistance Center in Blairsville, Indiana County, the Sideling Hill Creek Center, in Clearville, Bedford County and the Northwest Field Station in Union City, Erie County. He will oversee an annual operating budget of more than $11 million, with 85 percent of every dollar used to advance conservation programs . The broad spectrum of the Conservancy's programs include land conservation, ecological inventory and research, watershed protection and restoration, agricultural land protection, sustainable forestry and farming, the revitalization of urban spaces through community greening and community gateway gardens, the advancement of sound conservation public policy, and the preservation and presentation of Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright's 20th century masterpiece.