Annie Malone CEO Keisha Lee to Step Down Dec. 31
Lee, who has led the St. Louis child and family services organization since 2021, will move into strategic consulting and leadership development.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in People
Annie Malone Children & Family Services President and CEO Keisha Lee will conclude her executive tenure on Dec. 31, 2026. Lee gave the board advance notice of her departure in August to allow time for succession planning and executive continuity.
Why it matters
Lee's departure marks a leadership transition at a St. Louis organization founded in 1888 that serves families across the region. Her advance notice gives the organization time to plan for continuity in its ongoing services.
Lee's tenure spans 11 years with the organization, beginning on the board in 2015 and continuing as CEO from 2021. The extraction does not identify a successor or a timeline for filling the position.
The players
Keisha Lee
Keisha Lee is the president and CEO of Annie Malone Children & Family Services, a St. Louis organization whose work spans immunizations, dental care and family support.
Annie Malone Children & Family Services
Annie Malone Children & Family Services is a St. Louis-based nonprofit founded in 1888 that provides child and family services in underserved areas.
The details
Lee's tenure included maintaining financial audits without findings and expanding access to immunizations and dental care in underserved areas. Annie Malone also secured organizational accreditation through 2030 and mobilized two semi-truckloads of supplies for families affected by the 2025 St. Louis tornado.
Timeline
2015: Lee joins Annie Malone's board of directors.
2021: Lee becomes president and CEO.
August 2026: Lee notifies the board of her upcoming departure.
Dec. 31, 2026: Lee's executive tenure concludes.
Market Landscape
Lee's exit follows the organization's 2025 mobilization of two semi-truckloads of supplies after the St. Louis tornado, a major relief effort in the region it serves. The transition comes as the organization holds accreditation through 2030 and continues its immunization and dental access work.
For families who rely on Annie Malone's immunization and dental programs, the leadership change takes effect at the end of 2026 with the organization's services continuing. The advance notice from Lee gives the board time to plan for continuity of those services.
The takeaway
Leadership transitions at long-established nonprofits often hinge on how much notice the outgoing executive provides, and Lee's August notice gave the board several months to prepare. Readers following the organization can watch for an announcement of her successor before the Dec. 31 handoff.
What happens next
Lee's executive tenure concludes on Dec. 31, 2026, the date on which the organization's leadership transition takes effect.
Further reading
For more on executive moves at local organizations, browse the People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fox2Now.
