Clarey Castner is no longer CEO of the high-powered University of Nebraska Foundation, the foundation announced Wednesday.
No reason was given for Castner's departure in the foundation's official announcement. John Gottschalk, former publisher of the Omaha World-Herald, will be the foundation's interim president while the foundation does a national search for its next CEO, said Dr. Peter Whitted, chair of the foundation's board of directors.
"We are very thankful for the work Clarey Castner has accomplished during his time with the foundation, and we wish him the best in his future endeavors," Whitted said.
Castner and the foundation "came to an agreement to separate from one another" Wednesday afternoon, said Regent Randy Ferlic of Omaha.
Ferlic and other regents were informed of the move late Wednesday afternoon, he said. The foundation's employees learned of Castner's departure just after that.
Castner has helped run the foundation since 2005 and took over all leadership duties --- both president and CEO --- in 2008.
Under his leadership, the foundation has weathered the Great Recession and rebounded with record-breaking fundraising totals.
Last year, for example, the NU Foundation raised a record $172 milion, beating its previous record, set just before the 2008 stock market crash.
The foundation now controls roughly $1.7 billion in assets, its highest-ever total despite a two-year recessionary dip related to the market plunge and reduced giving.
That $1.7 billion is nearly double the amount of money that the NU Foundation controlled in 2004.
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