After seven years at the helm of Susan G. Komen, CEO Paula Schneider has announced she will step down from her role as president and chief executive of the world’s leading breast cancer organization.

Schneider will remain involved with the nonprofit as honorary vice chair, continuing to support Komen’s mission through advocacy and public engagement. A national search is now underway for her successor.

While the board conducts the search, a transition committee composed of Komen board members and senior leaders will guide the organization’s executive responsibilities.

Guiding the transition

Board Chair Ed Dandridge credited Schneider with leading Komen through a period of major transformation.

“Her leadership has been instrumental in transforming this organization,” Dandridge said in a statement. “Komen is well-positioned to enter its next chapter, and we look forward to identifying the leader who will follow in her footsteps to guide Komen’s continued transformation.”

Under Schneider’s leadership, the organization unified its national network of local affiliates into a single entity, a move Komen said improved efficiency and amplified its impact across the country.

A continued voice

Komen said Schneider played a key role in advancing its work across research, advocacy, community outreach, and patient care. To date, the organization has invested more than $3.5 billion in those areas as part of its mission to save lives and ultimately cure and prevent breast cancer.

“I’m enormously proud of the meaningful work our team has done and the progress we’ve made in our shared mission to save lives,” Schneider said in a statement. “Our mission has never been more urgent.”

As honorary vice chair, Schneider said she will focus on extending Komen’s reach and amplifying its message. “In my new role at Komen, I will focus on continuing to broadcast our message to extend our reach and heighten our impact.”

Quincy Preston contributed to this report.

Don’t miss what’s next. Subscribe to Dallas Innovates.

Track Dallas-Fort Worth’s business and innovation landscape with our curated news in your inbox Tuesday-Thursday.