Guild Hall Board Names Alec Baldwin President, Marty Cohen Chair

Guild Hall's board of trustees has two new men at the helm — actor Alec Baldwin was voted board president and Martin (Marty) Cohen was voted the chairman. 

Cohen takes over for Melville (Mickey) Straus, who stepped down after serving 18 years as chairman.  A vote was taken at the annual meeting on Aug. 23.

"During his tenure, Mr. Straus oversaw the extensive renovation of the museum, theater, education center  and administration offices. He also spearheaded Guild Hall’s capital campaign," the East Hampton arts center said in a statement. 

Guild Hall honored him with a Academy of the Arts Lifetime Achievement Award in March. He began a matching fund drive that paid off the remainder of the Capital Campaign. A $1 million endowment in the name of the Straus family remains. 

Cohen, the co-chairman and co-CEO of Cohen & Steers, a global investment manager listed on the New York Stock Exchange, is considered a pioneer in finance. He and Robert Steers founded the first real estate mutual fund, his biography explains.

He has served as a member of the Board of Governors of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts. He received the NAREIT Industry Achievement Award in 2011 and the Lifetime Achievement Award from NYU's real estate program. He also serves as the chairman of the board of the City College 21st Century Foundation. He is also on the board of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and New York City’s Central Park Conservancy. He joined Guild Hall's board 10 years ago. 

Cohen lives in East Hampton and New York City. With Michelle, his wife of 40 years, they have hosted many dinners at their home to benefit Guild Hall. 

Baldwin, who has a house in Amagansett, joined the Guild Hall Board of Trustees in 2011. An award-winning actor on television and film, Baldwin is an ardent supporter of the arts. He also serves on the boards of People For The American Way, The Hamptons International Film Festival, and The New York Philharmonic. Locally, he supports the East Hampton Library and the East Hampton Child Care Day Center, among others.