Malcolm Hoenlein
Malcolm HoenleinYoni Kempinski

Malcolm Hoenlein, the executive vice president of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, is stepping down after more than three decades of helming the umbrella foreign policy group for the US Jewish community.

An email Monday from the current conference chairman, Stephen Greenberg, said Hoenlein, who has been the group’s top professional since 1986, was timing his retirement to coincide with the search for a new chairman.

Greenberg has been chair since April 2015.

“While Malcolm continues to be a uniquely vital and energetic leader, and an irreplaceable asset, he felt that a transition process should be put in place,” Greenberg said in the email.

“Specifically, Malcolm will continue to serve the Conference as he has so effectively for more than three decades, as we seek an executive to assume responsibility for the Conference’s ongoing operations and activities.

“Malcolm will then focus on external relations as well as plans to structure the Conference for the years ahead.”