PRB

APRIL 4, 2024 — Jeffrey N. Jordan, president and chief executive officer of Population Reference Bureau (PRB), will retire as head of the nonprofit organization on May 1 after nearly 10 years, PRB announced today. The PRB Board of Trustees is in the final stages of its search for Jordan’s successor. 

“Leading PRB has been one of my greatest honors, and I am so proud of all we’ve accomplished over the last decade,” Jordan said. “Together with government officials, civil society actors, researchers and advocates, we have made tremendous progress in advancing the use of data and evidence to help solve urgent challenges and make the world a healthier, more equitable place.” 

“As we prepare to welcome a new CEO to PRB, the Board of Trustees is reminded of all Jeff has done to strengthen the organization and build its well-respected reputation in the United States, Kenya, West Africa and elsewhere,” said PRB Board chair Jennifer Madans. “His leadership has positioned PRB to develop innovative approaches and apply its expertise to new, substantive areas.”  

The Board is in the final stages of its search for Jordan’s successor, which began when Jordan informed the Board of his retirement last December, Madans said. The search is being facilitated by Russell Reynolds Associates, a leading executive search and leadership advisory firm based in Washington, D.C. 

Under Jordan’s leadership, PRB has expanded its long-time work in focus areas including family planning and reproductive health, gender equity and population aging, while taking on pressing issues such as climate adaptation and misinformation. PRB has strengthened long-term relationships with partners like the U.S. Census Bureau and forged new relationships with groups like the Regional Consortium for Research in Generational Economics (CREG) in Senegal. In addition, Jordan has been an outspoken advocate for fair and responsible use of data, supporting greater localization of data collection and interpretation and calling on governments and civil society to combat disinformation.  

An expert in policy communication and constituency building, Jordan served as chair of the Reproductive Health NGO CEO Group. He is member of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Advisory Group to Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem and is a UNFPA laureate; in December 2021, Jordan gave The Rafael M. Salas Memorial Lecture at the United Nations.  

“A belief in science and a commitment to evidence-based decision-making is at the heart of the modern democratic state,” Jordan said in the Salas lecture. “Without a shared set of facts and agreed upon standards for verification, rational decision-making becomes impossible.” 

Jordan’s retirement comes after a 35-year career in international development. Prior to joining PRB in 2014, he was a senior vice president at the Catholic Medical Mission Board, where he provided oversight and strategic input to all international programs. Jordan also served at Futures Group/Constella Futures as an analyst and program manager before becoming vice president of program development and chief operating officer. He received his master’s degree in public affairs from Princeton University in 1990 and his bachelor’s degree in economics from Davidson College in Davidson, N.C., in 1983. 

Madans noted that PRB remains committed to its core areas of focus and that programs in place will continue to be implemented.  

 “We remain committed to supporting PRB as it works toward achieving its mission of harnessing the power of population data to inform and advance solutions to the most urgent challenges facing our world,” said Madans. “This is an exciting time for PRB, as there is growing appreciation of the importance of population data and trends in all areas of life. We are very grateful to Jeff. He leaves the organization on strong footing, well prepared to move into the future.” 

About PRB
PRB promotes and support evidence-based policies, practices and decision-making to improve the health and well-being of people throughout the world. Learn more at prb.org. Follow us on X, LinkedIn, or Facebook.