Boston-based Preservation Housing Management (PHM) has named Patricia Belden as president and CEO effective today.

PHM specializes in the professional management of affordable multifamily housing. It currently manages more than 8,500 affordable housing apartments in nine states and Washington, D.C., mostly for POAH, and has a staff of 350 with offices in Boston, Kansas City and Chicago.

Belden most recently worked as managing director and chief operating officer of Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH), a nonprofit housing developer in Boston that is affiliated with PHM. Over the years, she has played a lead role in the acquisition, preservation and creation of close to 8,500 affordable apartments nationally.

"Patricia brings the highest level of expertise, management skill and knowledge of affordable housing to her new position at PHM," POAH President Amy Anthony said in a statement. "She will continue to provide the same leadership that allowed her to advance to the highest levels at POAH to our partner property management company. The tens of thousands of residents in our affordable housing communities will benefit from her extensive experience and passionate commitment to the preservation and professional management of affordable housing."