Alan H. Gill, CEO of the American Jewish Joint distribution Committee (JDC), announced today his plans to step down in 2016 after more than two decades of service with the Jewish aid group. In order to ensure a seamless transition of executive leadership, Gill will continue as CEO through the transition to his successor and has agreed to serve as executive advisor through the duration of 2016.

“It has been the greatest honor of my life that for more than two decades, JDC has been my second home and the main driver of my core belief that all Jews are responsible for one another,” said Gill. “I came to the decision that by next year, we will have achieved many of the critical milestones I set out to accomplish and it is the right time to return to Israel and my family there.”

Before relocating to NYC to become CEO, Gill served as the organization’s Executive Director for International Relations in Israel where he created and built a financial resource development operation to support the organization’s growing global humanitarian program. He was instrumental in the launch of a number of flagship JDC initiatives in Israel and the former Soviet Union and also served as a member of JDC’s emergency relief team during the 2008 Russia-Georgia war.

JDC’s CEO Search Committee, currently in formation, will be chaired by JDC Vice President Jacob Schimmel and will shortly begin a global search for Gill’s successor.