Kauffman Foundation Announces Leader’s Surprise Departure

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation said Wednesday that President and CEO Tom McDonnell will step down on June 30, The Kansas City Star reports.

The announcement surprised much of the local civic community, according to the Star, coming 18 months after Mr. McDonnell took the job and a month after foundation trustees adopted a five-year strategic plan he spearheaded. He will remain with the philanthropy as an adviser through the end of the year.

The 68-year-old businessman, who chaired the Kauffman board before becoming president, said the organization needs a leader who can serve five to seven years to see the strategy through and he “did not plan on that kind of extended commitment.” Wendy Guillies, the foundation’s vice president for communication, was named acting chief executive.

Mr. McDonnell led an effort to oust then-CEO Carl Schramm in December 2011 and was named to replace him a year later. He has won credit from civic leaders for reasserting the foundation’s focus on its Kansas City roots. Janice Kreamer, who succeeded Mr. McDonnell as board chair, said he provided “perfect” leadership.