NC Azalea Festival begins search for new executive director

NC Azalea Festival begins search for new executive director

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — After nearly 20 years with the North Carolina Azalea Festival, Alison Baringer is no longer serving as the festival’s executive director. The executive director position is now being advertised publicly, with the job posted on LinkedIn as the festival begins its search for new leadership. WWAY reached out to the North Carolina Azalea Festival for additional details. In an email, Michael Franklin, the 2026 board president,…

Azalea Festival searching for new executive director three months before this year’s event

The N.C. Azalea Festival is searching for a new executive director after longtime leader Alison Baringer’s departure, just three months before the April 8–12 festival. The Wilmington event generates more than $50 million annually, draws about 250,000 attendees, and recorded a record $1 million in sponsorships in 2025.

AfriLabs begins search for new executive director

AfriLabs will begin the search for a new executive director as Anna Ekeledo prepares to step down in February, ending a ten-year tenure. Ekeledo is still listed as executive director on LinkedIn, and the organisation says operations remain unchanged. In a statement, AfriLabs said it is seeking “visionary, values-driven leadership capable of scaling impact, deepening continental relevance, and advancing the organisation’s long-term ambition for i…