PLANNED PARENTHOOD GLOBAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ANNOUNCES DEPARTURE
For Immediate Release: Jan. 8, 2021
Senior Advisor to the President Dawn Laguens Appointed Interim ED
JANUARY 8, 2021, NEW YORK, NY - PLANNED PARENTHOOD - Planned Parenthood Global (PP Global) Executive Director Monica Kerrigan announced her resignation today, following the continued health emergency of a family member. Dawn Laguens, who has previously served as PPFA Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer, and is currently Senior Advisor to President Alexis McGill Johnson, will become Interim Executive Director effective January 8, 2021 while Monica continues to play a supportive role through the end of January.
“Monica leaves PP Global at the forefront of innovation in advocacy, service delivery, and community mobilization in Latin America and Africa and we sincerely thank her for her contribution and leadership,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
Since joining PP Global in 2019, Monica launched a new PP Global board and completed one of the most critical strategy refresh processes in the organization’s history. This process engaged over 100 stakeholders including staff, partners, funders, and board members to ensure a locally driven and globally connected strategic vision to power Planned Parenthood Global into the future. In addition, she achieved the organization’s goal of serving more than 6 million clients with quality abortion and reproductive health services provided by local partners.
“This past month has been an inflection point for me, and with the knowledge that my family will require continued support, I made the very difficult decision to step down from this role,” said Kerrigan. “Planned Parenthood Global will remain a special place for me, and with a new U.S. administration, our purpose and our mission will be critically needed now more than ever before. PP Global has the opportunity and the expertise to shape the future – we have a great team and great leadership in place and that will remain as I step down.”
Dawn Laguens brings a history of global partnership and a wealth of expertise to PP Global including strategy development, results-driven management, board governance and resource mobilization.
“I’m very honored to serve as interim Executive Director for Planned Parenthood Global,” said Laguens. “In our 50th year of working to expand access to sexual and reproductive health for all, I look forward to working with Global President Alexis McGill Johnson to shape an even bolder agenda with the new administration and our partners - and to place equity, access, and rights at the forefront.”
ABOUT PLANNED PARENTHOOD GLOBAL
For 50 years, Planned Parenthood Global, the international arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of American, has been working around to ensure that women, men, and young people in some of the world's most neglected areas have access to the health care they need to control their bodies and their futures. By partnering with local advocates, health providers, and youth leaders to help build sustainable networks and organizations, Planned Parenthood Global finds innovative ways to deliver critical services and fight for more inclusive laws and policies. Currently, Planned Parenthood Global works in nine countries in Africa and Latin America.
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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.