The head of the nation’s largest autism advocacy group will leave her post next year.

Autism Speaks said Monday that Liz Feld will stay on as president through June 2016 and the nonprofit is now searching for her replacement.

“When I was named president of Autism Speaks, I committed to serving until 2016,” Feld said in a statement. “I am making this announcement now in the interest of providing the board of directors and the organization the opportunity for a responsible and successful leadership transition. I remain focused on ensuring solid success for our critical projects and initiatives in the months ahead.”

The organization’s board said it has hired Spencer Stuart, an executive search firm, to hunt for a new leader.

Feld joined Autism Speaks in 2012 as executive vice president of strategic communications and was quickly promoted to president in an abrupt change that year.

Prior to then, Feld served as mayor of Larchmont, N.Y. and was a communications executive at ABC News and Nickelodeon.

Feld replaced Mark Roithmayr who led Autism Speaks from 2005 to 2012.

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