in a telephone interview . `` I think the board acted very quickly , '' she said , adding that the woman remains in her job . About Everson , DeFrancis said , `` We 're grateful for his service . '' The board of governors on Tuesday appointed Mary S. Elcano , general counsel and five-year Red Cross employee , as interim president and CEO . Everson had worked in the Bush administration from August 2001 -- including serving as commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service -- until he was hired by the Red Cross . `` This is flabbergasting , that 's all I can say . It 's completely contrary to his public persona that he evidenced while he was at the IRS , '' said Suzanne Ross McDowell , a Washington-based attorney who served on an advisory committee to the IRS division that deals with tax-exempt organizations . `` From the standpoint of exempt organizations on the non-profit sector , it 's just another news story that we would rather not see , '' she said . `` It 's got nothing to do with the Red Cross , '' said Ira Milstein , a New
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Red Cross President and CEO Mark W. Everson has stepped down after revelations he was `` engaged in a personal relationship with a subordinate employee , '' the organization announced Tuesday . Mark W. Everson says he is leaving his post , effective immediately , for `` personal and family reasons . '' The Red Cross Board of Governors asked for and received Everson 's resignation after it `` concluded that the situation reflected poor judgment on Mr. Everson 's part and diminished his ability to lead the organization in the future , '' the Red Cross said in a statement on its Web site . Everson , 53 , said in a written statement that he was leaving the $ 500,000-per-year job `` for personal and family reasons , and deeply regret it is impossible for me to continue in a job so recently undertaken . '' Everson -- who is married and has two children -- joined the Red Cross as president and CEO last May . The organization became aware of Everson 's relationship with a female Red Cross employee 10 days ago , Chief Public Affairs Officer Suzy C. DeFrancis told CNN