BrightFocus Foundation Announces President and CEO Planned Retirement and Launches National Search

CLARKSBURG, Md., May 18, 2026—BrightFocus Foundation today announced that Stacy Pagos Haller has shared her intention to retire as president and chief executive officer following the successful completion of a national search and the appointment of a successor, after more than 16 years of leadership. The Board of Directors has retained Isaacson, Miller to conduct a comprehensive national search for the organization’s next president and CEO.

“This is a thoughtfully planned transition. We are grateful for Stacy’s leadership and are confident in the organization’s continued strength. By launching a national search now, we are ensuring a deliberate and disciplined process aligned with our long-term strategy,” said Patricia McGlothlin Stewart, chair of the BrightFocus Board of Directors.

“It has been an honor to serve BrightFocus Foundation. I remain fully committed to our mission and to supporting a strong and seamless transition,” Haller said.

Haller will remain fully engaged in the role until a successor is appointed and the transition is successfully completed. The Board will oversee a comprehensive national search and announce BrightFocus’ new president and CEO upon the successful completion of the process.

Since joining BrightFocus in 2010, Haller has significantly expanded the nonprofit’s stature as a prominent funder of Alzheimer’s disease, macular degeneration, and glaucoma scientific research and provider of critical information to millions of affected individuals about these diseases. Under her tenure, the Foundation has tripled its investment in boundary-breaking neurodegenerative research, having funded $226 million across 1,140 awards to defeat brain and vision diseases. Since its inception over 50 years ago, BrightFocus has awarded over $330 million in research funding for nearly 2,100 awards, across 28 countries and six continents.

BrightFocus Foundation has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this important recruitment. All inquiries, nominations, and applications for this opportunity should be directed in confidence to the firm via this webpage: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/brightfocus-foundation/president-chief-executive-officer

Media contact
Julia S. Roth
BrightFocus Foundation
jroth@brightfocus.org