LeadingAge President and CEO Katie Smith Sloan will step down effective March 31, 2027, the national association representing nonprofit and mission-driven providers serving older adults announced Monday.
Smith Sloan and the LeadingAge board have worked collaboratively on a smooth transition plan to prevent any disruptions, LeadingAge said in a statement to Skilled Nursing News.
“She is not retiring and is currently focused on the work to be done at LeadingAge and on ensuring a smooth transition,” the statement read.
Smith Sloan will leave her position after more than 20 years of service to LeadingAge, where she has been a prominent advocate in Washington, D.C., on workforce issues, affordable housing for low-income older adults and long-term care financing reform.
“I step down knowing that LeadingAge stands on a solid foundation, with a brilliant and important future ahead,” Smith Sloan said in a press release.
At LeadingAge, Smith Sloan spent 10 years as CEO and 10 years as chief operating officer.
A search committee to identify Smith Sloan’s successor has been formed by the LeadingAge board, chaired by Christie Hinrichs, president and CEO of Frasier. Details about the search process and timeline will be announced at a later date, the press release noted.
“The committee will undertake a thorough process, honoring Katie’s legacy and positioning the organization for continued success,” Hinrichs said. “We thank Katie for her remarkable contributions to LeadingAge and to our field.”
LeadingAge represents more than 5,300 nonprofit and mission-driven aging services providers across the U.S., the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Smith Sloan joined LeadingAge as SVP of Membership, was promoted to COO six months later and became president and CEO in 2015. During her tenure, she helped launch Value First , a group purchasing company with LeadingAge state partners.
She also established the LeadingAge Center @UMass Boston, combining LeadingAge’s research expertise with the University of Massachusetts Boston’s Gerontology Institute.
Outside LeadingAge, she serves as executive director of the Global Ageing Network, which works to improve quality of life for aging populations in more than 50 countries.
In addition, Smith Sloan is affiliated with other aging services organizations, serving as director of the Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation (CABHI) in Toronto and HelpAge USA.
“I have been privileged to work alongside talented colleagues who go above and beyond every day to advocate for and support our members,” she said. “Our vision of an America that values older adults and those who serve them has never been more important.”
Before joining LeadingAge, Smith Sloan held a number of key leadership positions at AARP.
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