Alexis McGill Johnson to head Planned Parenthood

Alexis McGill Johnson has been named acting president and CEO of PPFA and Acting President of PPAF, effective immediately. Johnson is a former member of the board of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, as well as a former chair and member of the board of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “We thank Dr. Leana Wen for her service to Planned Parenthood in such a pivotal time and extend our best wishes for her continued success. Alexis is a renowned social justice leader, lifelong political organizer and a tireless advocate for reproductive rights and access to quality, affordable health care. She has served as a Planned Parenthood board member for nearly a decade and acted as Planned Parenthood’s Board Chair from 2013 to 2015, where she expanded the organization’s philanthropic reach and helped develop a strategic plan to increase access to Planned Parenthood’s health centers and identify new technologies to meet the needs of Planned Parenthood’s patients.” In a statement, the organization said, “Planned Parenthood was founded more than 100 years ago on the revolutionary idea that women should have the information and care they need to live strong, healthy lives and fulfill their dreams — with no ceilings, and no limits. We look forward to working with Alexis McGill Johnson to build on Planned Parenthood’s great legacy as a trusted health care provider, an informed educator, a passionate advocate, and a global partner helping similar organizations around the world. McGill responded by saying, “I am proud to step in to serve as acting president and facilitate a smooth leadership transition in this critical moment for Planned Parenthood and the patients and communities we serve. I thank Dr. Wen for her service and her commitment to patients. I look forward to getting to work alongside the incredible team at Planned Parenthood who work every single day to help people access high quality reproductive health care.”