Walsh was the recommendation of a player-led search committee for the position to find the successor to Donald Fehr, who has held the position since Dec. 18, 2010.
"I am honored to have been selected as the Executive Director of the NHLPA," Walsh said. "In accepting this offer I am committing to do all that I can to advocate on players' behalf. My years of experience in the labor movement and in public life has taught me that the job is never about me. It's about us. It's about the people we serve. So I look forward to working with players and the NHLPA staff to make the NHLPA the best and most effective team we can be to advance and protect the interests of our players and their families."
The 55-year-old was confirmed by the United States senate as the 29th Secretary of Labor on March 22, 2021. Prior to joining President Joe Biden's administration, Walsh was mayor of Boston from 2014-21. He also spent 16 years serving in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, which he was first elected to in 1997.
Before getting into politics, Walsh had a long history as a union member and labor leader in Boston.
Walsh will begin his duties with the NHLPA in mid-March.
"We are excited to name Marty Walsh as the next Executive Director of the NHLPA," said Kyle Okposo, NHLPA search committee member and Buffalo Sabres forward. "Marty is a proven leader with a strong union background. His energy and ability to connect with players were immediately evident to the search committee. These were the very qualities we were focused on throughout our search for the next Executive Director. We look forward to the NHLPA's future under Marty's leadership."
The 10-player search committee consisted of defensemen Ian Cole of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Mattias Ekholm of the Nashville Predators, Justin Faulk of the St. Louis Blues, Kevin Shattenkirk of the Anaheim Ducks, Jacob Trouba of the New York Rangers and Nate Schmidt of the Winnipeg Jets; and forwards Sam Gagner of the Jets, Zach Hyman of the Edmonton Oilers, Okposo and James van Riemsdyk of the Philadelphia Flyers.
