After more than a decade of transformative leadership, Lauren Koontz has made the decision to depart as president and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta to join the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.
“On behalf of the board of directors, members and more than 4,000 employees, I want to express our deepest gratitude for the extraordinary contributions Lauren has made to this organization and to the communities we are privileged to serve,” said W. Jeffrey Beckham, the chair of the Y’s board of directors, in a statement on LinkedIn. “Lauren joined the Y in 2012, and in 2019 she made history as the first woman to serve as president and CEO in our organization’s more than 168-year history.”
Beckham added that her tenure has been defined by purpose, excellence, and an unwavering commitment to ensuring that every person — especially every child — has an equal opportunity to reach their full potential.
“The programs, partnerships and people she championed will leave a lasting mark on metro Atlanta for years to come,” said Beckham. “We’re grateful for Lauren’s service, and we wish her and her family every success in the next chapter.”
Paul Nguyen, the executive vice president and chief financial and administrative officer of the Y, will serve as interim CEO. Allison Toller, the chief of staff, strategy and impact will serve as interim president.
“Both bring deep institutional knowledge and proven leadership to these roles, and the board has full confidence in their ability to guide the organization through this transition,” said Beckham. A national search for the next permanent president and CEO is currently underway. Our members, families, and partners can be assured that our programs and services will continue without interruption as we move forward.”
