WASHINGTON — The National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC) announced Tuesday that Dan Leonard will be stepping down as president and chief executive officer, effective September 4.

Dan Leonard

“Under his leadership, NPC became a leading voice explaining how medicines bring value to our health system and society. Dan increased its membership, expanded its staff, and strengthened its reputation for delivering research-driven insight into key health policy questions,” said Blasine Penkowski, chief strategic customer officer, Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems, and NPC board chair. “On behalf of the NPC board of directors, we thank him for his 12 years of service and wish him well in his future plans.”

Leonard served as president and CEO for more than 12 years, during which time he expanded NPC’s policy research and communications capacity, developed and strengthened partnerships with other health care organizations, and moved the organization’s headquarters back to Washington, D.C., from Reston, Virginia. Leonard’s next position will be announced soon.

The NPC board of directors will announce an interim president and CEO in the coming days. “The board and I are confident NPC will continue to make substantial contributions to conversations about the future of health care in the United States,” said Penkowski, “especially as stakeholders seek ways to make the health system work better for patients.”