United States Green Building Council founder and CEO Rick Fedrizzi announced he will not seek a renewal of his contract at the end of 2016. Fedrizzi — who has held the position since 2003 — will help pave the way for a leadership transition in 2017.

“As one of the founders of USGBC, I never could have imagined the sweeping global impact the organization would have, the wide-ranging work that could be accomplished, the dramatic change in our industry that we would lead, the scale of the innovation we would spark or the number of lives we would touch,” he said. “It’s been a humbling and gratifying experience.” 

Fedrizzi co-founded the USGBC in 1993 and has been a charismatic figure in sustainable building. In 2009, he became CEO of the Green Building Certification Institute (now Green Business Certification, Inc.), a third-party certification organization.

“As an industry, we’ve grown and prospered because of a powerful idea that ultimately sparked a movement,” said Fiona Cousins, chair-elect of the USGBC Board of Directors. “That movement has been ably led by Rick for more than two decades and it’s that success we’ll continue to build on in the future.”

The USGBC Board of Directors has set up a search committee so it can quickly fill the CEO position.

 “I am looking forward to working with the board to assure a successful transition for the new CEO come 2017,” Fedrizzi said. “The organization’s executive team is seasoned and capable, assuring that USGBC’s work will continue to be executed at a high level and that USGBC’s reputation as a leading voice in the sustainability movement will continue uninterrupted. The emerging leaders across the organization are running sophisticated global business units of their own.”