CHARLOTTE — Matt Ferrante has been hired as the new chief financial officer and chief administrative officer for the Diocese of Charlotte effective July 1. Ferrante succeeds Bill Weldon, who is retiring after 28 years of service to the diocese.
Ferrante has 17 years of experience in corporate finance, including seven years on finance councils for the diocese and St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Charlotte. He has an extensive background in budgeting and forecasting and has worked in financial planning and analysis and investor relations for companies including Lowe’s and Shutterfly, most recently serving as senior finance manager for DaVita, an international provider of dialysis services. In that role, he facilitated the financial operations of more than 100 dialysis clinics across North Carolina.
He holds an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a bachelor’s degree in business from Belmont Abbey College. At the Abbey he served as student government president, was named Student of the Year – and most importantly, met his wife Jessica. The couple has nine children ranging from 15 to 1 month old.
“Our Catholic faith is the foundation and focus for our family, so to be able to align that with my career is a valued opportunity,” Ferrante said. “At the heart of my approach to financial work is relationships, and having served on a parish finance council, I can say the needs and struggles of our parishes will be a priority for me, along with my firm commitment to continued financial transparency.”
Under Church law, the bishop must appoint a finance officer who is “truly expert in financial affairs and absolutely distinguished for honesty,” after having heard from the College of Consultors and the diocesan Finance Council. That was completed May 14.
Ferrante’s role as chief administrative officer including overseeing the diocese’s controller and directors of Technology Services, Planning, Properties and Risk Management, the Catholic Conference Center and Living Waters Retreat Center.
Weldon will continue working with the diocese over the next several months to ensure a smooth transition.
“I am grateful to Bill for his deft management and years of dedicated service,” said Monsignor Patrick Winslow, vicar general and chancellor of the diocese. “He is nationally regarded for his financial acumen and commitment to transparency, and he has won numerous financial awards. We are in his debt and grateful for his keen eye and good humor. He has strengthened the financial health of the diocese, and he’ll be a great help in our transition as he and the diocese prepare for a new chapter.”
— Catholic News Herald