Among other services, Dr. Rick Hodes, JDC's Medical Director in Ethiopia, performs lifesaving pediatric spinal surgeries through the Mother Teresa Clinic in Addis Ababa. Photo: Richard Lord.

In the wake of the announcement that American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) Executive Vice President and CEO Steven Schwager will step down as CEO, JDC has named veteran Jewish community executive and leader Darrell Friedman as its interim CEO effective July 1. The organization plans to launch an immediate search for a permanent CEO.

Friedman spent 17 years as CEO of The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore and has been a strategic consultant to major national and international Jewish organizations.

“Darrell’s proven leadership and expertise, along with his years of experience with JDC, will be of great value to our organization over the coming months as we continue to address the critical challenges faced by Jews worldwide,” said (JDC) President Penny Blumenstein.