Planned Parenthood North Central States announces new CEO, a MN state representative

(ABC 6 News) – Planned Parenthood North Central States on Wednesday announced their next CEO.

Minnesota Rep. Ruth Richardson (DFL), will step in and succeed current CEO Sarah Stoesz, who announced in December 2021 that she would be stepping aside.

Richardson is serving her second term for District 52B, and has worked as CEO of Wayside Recovery Center, a non-profit health care organization that provides mental health and substance abuse support, throughout skyrocketing demand for services during the pandemic.

PPNCS is tackling the challenges of the new sexual and reproductive health landscape head on.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, 15 states have banned abortion, and more are expected to follow. PPNCS is currently providing abortion care in Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa.

“Our mission is more important than ever before. The new Post-Roe world means that we can’t operate in the same way as we have for the last 50 years. We have to be focused on serving patients across our region, and serving people from states that have banned abortion, by thinking about access regionally. I can’t wait to get to work,” said Richardson.

Richardson will oversee the health care operations of PPNCS, and she will not oversee political work or lobbying while she holds her legislative seat.

Stoesz will continue to serve as President of the Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota Action Fund at least through the November elections at the earliest.