Ambassador Stuart Holliday to Step Down as CEO of Meridian International Center
August 28, 2025
*Updated September 10, 2025
Washington, D.C. – The Board of Trustees of Meridian International Center announced today that The Honorable Stuart W. Holliday will be stepping down as Chief Executive Officer at the end of September 2025, after nearly two decades of transformative leadership.
Since 2006, Ambassador Holliday has led Meridian through a period of unprecedented growth and impact, strengthening its role as a leading nonpartisan institution advancing American diplomacy and leadership. In addition to maintaining Meridian’s long-standing partnership with the U.S. Department of State, Ambassador Holliday expanded Meridian’s scope of work under its “Open Diplomacy” framework to include new sectors and actors, including business, technology, space and innovation, state and local governments, and sports and culture.
“It has been the honor of my life to lead Meridian over the past two decades,” said Ambassador Holliday. “I look forward to continuing my engagement with Meridian in a new capacity as it embarks on an exciting next chapter as we mark 65 years since its founding. I thank our current and past Board Chairs, Trustees, supporters, and friends for their leadership of our mission and stewardship of our historic campus.”
Deborah Lehr, a long-time Meridian Trustee, has been appointed by the Board to serve as Interim CEO, ensuring continuity and representation during the transition until a permanent CEO is named. Deborah brings extensive experience in international business, government, diplomacy, and cultural exchange.
“I have worked with many CEO’s and nonprofit leaders during my career. Stuart set a high bar, a leader with vision, energy, and creativity that he infused into a historic institution. His legacy is a modernized Meridian, an organization ready to meet the challenging demands of diplomacy in today’s world. We are deeply grateful for his extraordinary service and the strong foundation he built that will guide Meridian into the future. I would also like to thank Deborah for stepping in to serve as interim CEO – she is a valued member of the Board and we are appreciative of her support during this important time,” said The Honorable Fred P. Hochberg, Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
The Board has appointed The Honorable Drew Maloney, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, to chair the CEO Search Committee. “As we undertake this search process and transition, our priority is to ensure that the institution’s long-term direction remains strong, its mission endures, and its legacy of collaboration and diplomacy continues to guide our work,” said Maloney.