Deborah Hersman to leave NSC

November 28, 2018
D. Hersman
Deborah Hersman (center), pictured with National Safety Council Board of Directors Chairman Mark Vergnano (left) and former Chairman of the NSC Board John Surma (right).

Itasca, IL — The National Safety Council recently announced that Deborah A.P. Hersman will step down from her role as president and CEO of the nonprofit organization.

Hersman joined NSC in May 2014 after serving 10 years at the National Transportation Safety Board, including five as chairman. Her final day with the council will be Jan. 11. NSC Chief Operating Officer Nicholas Smith will serve as interim president and CEO.

Hersman’s next journey takes her to Mountain View, CA, where she will serve as chief safety officer at Waymo, a self-driving technology development company.

“On behalf of the NSC Board of Directors, congratulations to Debbie on her exciting new role with Waymo,” Board Chairman Mark Vergnano said in a Nov. 27 press release. “Debbie has always been a strong champion for safety and she is perfectly positioned to lead Waymo through the next phase of their self-driving vehicle program.”

Hersman reflected on her time at NSC in a Nov. 27 post to the NSC “Safety First” blog.