VIA DisasterAccountabiityProject. Steven Ward of 2theAdVocate reports about Vic Howell, CEO of the Red Cross for Louisiana:

Howell, who has been the CEO in Baton Rouge for six years, was named the American National Red Cross Division 4 vice president, said Kendall Hebert, spokeswoman for the area chapter, on Monday. Howell, 64, started his new job Monday. Howell will manage operations for 18 regions with a total of 74 Red Cross chapters in Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Illinois. “I’m very excited about the new job, but I made the decision to take it with mixed emotions,” Howell said Monday morning by phone while on his way to Washington, D.C. “I’m excited about the future but hate to leave the local chapter because of all the great working relationships we had with the state,” Howell said. Howell’s other local title was regional executive for American Red Cross Chapters in Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Lake Charles. Hebert said an interim CEO has not yet been named. Chief Operating Officer Bob Wortman will step up his daily duties and assist with chapter operations until a new leader is found. Patrick Mockler, the chapter’s board of directors chairman, was out of town Monday, but Hebert said Mockler will start to form a search committee today to fill Howell’s position. “This is a job we want to fill quickly, especially with the hurricane season coming soon,” Hebert said. Hebert said the chapter hopes to have a new CEO in place as soon as possible, but no date has been set. Howell, who said he will assist the local board in finding his replacement, said he will continue to live in Baton Rouge.

BR Red Cross chief gets national post By Steven Ward of The Advocate. 2theAdvocate is a joint internet project of WBRZ-TV and The Advocate (we believe the leading local daily print publication).

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