According to Leana Wen, the recent Planned Parenthood Exec, she was "ousted"today following what she called a "secret meeting". In the job for a little less than a year, Ms. Wen states that she is leaving "because the new Board Chairs and she have philosophical differences over the direction ad future of Planned Parenthood."
The Board named a current board member "acting president and CEO". The co-chairs released a statement "best wishes" and recognizing her for her career.
This approach by a board should serve to remind all that the dynamics between the board and exec is both relational and transactional. Yes, an exec can meet their goals while failing to ensure that the relational aspect, most often embodied in trust but including philosophical differences, weighs equally. And, in the end, a nonprofit is "owned" by the board, not the exec although this is often difficult to discern in the many instances I have witnessed.
Among the many media covering this story, check-out the New York Times.