New Hanover Community Endowment officials announced Monday that the organization’s executive vice president of programs and operations, Lakesha McDay, has submitted her resignation.

According to a news release, McDay will remain in a consultancy role to “ensure a smooth transition of new leadership for Dan Winslow as CEO.” Endowment officials announced Winslow’s hiring in August.

“I am proud of the role I served as part of the inaugural years at the endowment,” McDay stated in the release. “The team I helped build at the endowment will continue as my legacy of excellence and service to the New Hanover community. Our new CEO, Dan Winslow, and Board Chair Bill Cameron have asked me to stay on in a consulting capacity during our leadership change, and I welcome that opportunity.”

Winslow is expected to start as CEO and president of NHCE on Oct. 1.

McDay wrote in an email Monday afternoon that for her career after the endowment, her plans "are to pursue some personal interests that have been on my heart. Philanthropy will always hold a special place in my life, which was modeled by my grandmother, so I plan to stay connected to the field of work. I’m looking forward to what the future holds."

In addition to her vice president role, McDay served as interim director of the more than $1 billion endowment, formed using the proceeds of the sale of New Hanover Regional Medical Center to Novant Health in 2021. She led the nonprofit organization in the interim role after the endowment’s inaugural CEO, William Buster, resigned in February of this year.

According to the release, McDay “assisted in creating successful foundational processes to put the endowment in the position it is in today.  She oversaw grant-making, capacity-building and operations and has served as a positive, inspiring voice for the endowment while helping to address community needs.”

Cameron said in the release that during the transition to a new CEO, “staff hiring and departures are normal and to be expected as the endowment continues to evolve and focus on making an impact within our community.” 

He said, “Lakesha’s willingness to extend her time with us through the onboarding of our new CEO speaks volumes about her commitment to the organization and our mission. NHCE has benefited greatly from her expertise and steadfast leadership, and we wish her the very best in her future endeavors.”