SPLC names new president and CEO as group faces federal probe

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has officially selected its new leader. Following a year-long search, the civil rights organization announced Tuesday that Ryan P. Haygood has been appointed as its next president and chief executive officer.

New Leadership at the Helm

Karen Baynes-Dunning, chair of the SPLC board of directors, expressed confidence in the unanimous selection of Haygood. "At this defining moment, when our country desperately needs both the courage to resist and the vision to construct what has never existed before, the SPLC board is proud and grateful to welcome Ryan to the helm," Baynes-Dunning stated. She added that Haygood possesses the heart, leadership capabilities, and vision necessary to guide the organization during this challenging period.

Haygood steps into the role after a period of transition. Margaret Huang served as the SPLC's president and CEO for five years before resigning in July 2025. Since that time, Bryan Fair has been serving as the organization's interim president and CEO.

A Background in Advocacy

Haygood brings an extensive resume to the SPLC. A distinguished civil rights lawyer from New Jersey, he previously served as the deputy director of litigation at the Legal Defense Fund. For more than a decade, he has also held the position of president and CEO at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice.

Regarding his new appointment, Haygood emphasized a dual focus: resisting current threats and building toward a better future. "The forces arrayed against justice, democracy and the dignity of every person are real, and they are organized—but so are we," Haygood said. "We are not only fighting the current attacks on our democracy; we are building the future as it must be. That is our charge. That has always been our charge. Fight and build."

Facing Federal Scrutiny

Haygood is set to take over in late August as the SPLC faces significant legal headwinds. The organization is currently the subject of a federal indictment alleging that it secretly funded hate groups, including the Ku Klux Klan, through the use of paid informants.

In response, the SPLC contends that these allegations are entirely false. The group has argued that it is being subjected to vindictive, politically motivated prosecution by the administration of President Donald Trump due to its long history of civil rights advocacy.