AOPA announces leadership change as CEO moves to advisor position

(Image from AOPA)AOPA has announced that its president and CEO, Darren Pleasance, will be stepping down as CEO and will now act as an advisor for the company's Board of Trustees. The reason given for the change is that the AOPA CEO role should be based full-time at AOPA's headquarters in Frederick, Maryland and Pleasance has had to spend substantial time travelling to the headquarters from his home in Bend, Oregon. The association claims that the transition will better support its long-term needs. "I'm incredibly proud of what we were able to set in motion at AOPA in a relatively short period of time," said Pleasance. "In addition, I had the opportunity to meet thousands of members across the country, hear their stories, and work on issues that matter to everyday pilots, which has been deeply meaningful. The most special part of AOPA, though, is the staff. The people here care deeply about pilots and the mission, and it's been a privilege to work alongside them." Day-to-day operations will be led by CFO Jill Baker and senior VP of membership strategy and growth, Katie Pribyl, during the transition period. The Board of Trustees is expected to begin the search for a new CEO and president soon, with a process that aligns with the long-term needs of AOPA's members and the general aviation community. RELATED STORIES: AOPA Air Safety Institute suggests icing as factor in Challenger 650 crash AOPA urges members to support privacy act to end ADS-B misuse AOPA requests federal assistance to retrieve seized aircraft from reservation "Darren has brought energy, perspective, and a deep commitment to serving pilots and protecting the freedom to fly," said Jim Hauslein, chairman of the AOPA Board of Trustees. "He has been deeply engaged with our members across the country, taking time to listen to their experiences, understand their challenges, and represent their voices in the work we do every day. We are grateful for his leadership and are pleased he will continue to support AOPA during this transition."