The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee named Darrell Friedman as interim CEO following the abrupt resignation of longtime CEO Steven Schwager.

Schwager, who had been at the helm of the JDC for 10 years, announced last Friday that he’d be stepping down as CEO effective June 30. Friedman, a Jewish organizational consultant who served for 17 years as the CEO of The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, has been working with the JDC for the past nine years as an in-house senior consultant to Schwager, according to the JDC. He will start his interim position on July 1.

“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,” JDC’s president, Penny Blumenstein, said in a statement on Tuesday.

Friedman will also serve as an adviser to the JDC board’s international search committee for a new CEO.

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