The Atlanta Community Food Bank has named Jon West, currently its vice president of partner relations, as interim chief executive officer, effective November 2, 2026. West succeeds Kyle Waide, who announced on September 14 that he will become president of Downtown Atlanta Inc. on December 1. Waide will remain president and CEO of the Food Bank through November 1 and will stay on in an advisory role through November 12 to support the transition.
As interim CEO, West will lead day-to-day operations, support the Food Bank’s staff and leadership team, steward key community relationships, and keep the organization’s strategic priorities moving forward while the Board of Directors conducts a search for its next long-term leader. Programs, services, and commitments to neighbors and partners will continue without interruption.
West brings 17 years of experience at the Food Bank. In his current role as vice president of partner relations, he leads the team that works alongside the Food Bank’s network of more than 700 community-based, nonprofit partners in 29 counties, which together distribute more than 110 million meals each year. Previously, as senior manager of strategy and innovation, he led the development of the Food Bank’s 10-year strategic plan, setting the vision for the organization’s future operations.
Before joining the Food Bank, West worked with an agricultural relief and development organization, in higher education, and as a youth mentor in Botswana. He holds a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary and a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Mississippi College.
“Jon knows this organization inside and out, from his first role here painting food drive barrels to building the partner network that puts food within reach of neighbors across our 29 counties,” said Althea Broughton, chair of the Atlanta Community Food Bank Board of Directors. “The board has complete confidence in his ability to lead the Food Bank through this transition. Our team is strong, our strategy is clear, and our commitment to neighbors does not change.”
The Board of Directors is selecting a search firm to guide a thoughtful, thorough search for the Food Bank’s next president and CEO. “We are committed to finding a leader who embraces the Food Bank’s values and keeps neighbors, partners, volunteers, donors, and staff at the center of this work,” Broughton said. “We will share updates at appropriate milestones as the search moves forward.”
“Jon is one of the leaders I have relied on most, and he is the right person for this moment,” said Kyle Waide, president and CEO of the Atlanta Community Food Bank. “He understands our mission, our partners, and our people, and he helped build the Food Bank we have today. I have every confidence in Jon and in the team he will lead.”
“It is a privilege to serve the Food Bank in this role,” said Jon West, incoming interim CEO of the Atlanta Community Food Bank. “Our mission is urgent, our team is exceptional, and our partners are the reason food reaches neighbors across metro Atlanta and north Georgia. My focus is on our neighbors, our partners, and keeping this work moving forward.”
The leadership change comes as the Food Bank continues its mission to end hunger across metro Atlanta and north Georgia. In 2023, the organization distributed its one billionth meal. The interim appointment ensures stability for an operation that helps thousands of families, children, and seniors access healthy food every year. For the business community and nonprofit sector, the transition highlights the importance of strong internal leadership pipelines and strategic succession planning. West’s deep experience with partner relations and strategy positions him to maintain momentum on the Food Bank’s long-term goals while the board searches for a permanent CEO. The continuity in programs and services means that the hundreds of thousands of people who rely on the Food Bank’s network can continue to count on support without disruption.
