Island Grown Initiative announced Friday that co-executive director Michelle Gittlen will leave the food and agriculture nonprofit in April, 2025, one year after she stepped into the shared leadership position.

“We knew that she wouldn’t be able to stay with us forever given her legal career, and are extraordinarily grateful to her for stepping up,” Island Grown board chair Gail Arnold said in the announcement.

An attorney who has specialized in guiding the philanthropic efforts of leading sports professionals, Ms. Gittlen moved to the Island in 2022 and worked in marketing for the Vineyard Gazette Media Group before joining Island Grown as managing director the following year.

When executive director Rebecca Haag announced her retirement early this year, the Island Grown board of directors moved to a dual-leadership role, naming Ms. Gittlen co-executive director of finance and administration and longtime staffer Noli Taylor co-executive director of programs.

Island Grown is now searching for a new co-executive director of finance and administration, with the goal of hiring next spring.

Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis at igimv.org/employment, according to the announcement.