FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Cathleen C. Savage

(301) 634-9411

savage-cathleen@norc.org 

CHICAGO-- On Tuesday, February 5, 2008, NORC announced that Craig G. Coelen has left his position as the organization’s president and chief executive officer. Executive Vice President John H. Thompson will serve as interim president while the Board of Trustees conducts a search for a new leader. Coelen served as president and CEO for nearly eight years, during which he oversaw a period of extraordinary expansion and financial success, leaving NORC well positioned to build on his accomplishments. During Coelen’s term, NORC’s annual revenues and staff size more than doubled and the organization expanded into new areas, including international projects and information technology.

Thompson brings a strong background in management to his interim role, having served as executive vice president at NORC for the past five years. He came to NORC from the U.S. Bureau of the Census where he held a number of executive positions including Associate Director for the Decennial Censuses with responsibility for managing and directing all aspects of the 2000 Census.

NORC, known since 1941 as the National Opinion Research Center, conducts high quality social science research in the public interest. Visit our site at: www.norc.org