Nykia Wright has been named interim CEO for the National Association of Realtors® (NAR), effective Nov. 20.

Wright will replace CEO Bob Goldberg, who announced his planned retirement in June, a NAR news release said. Goldberg will serve as a consultant to NAR during the transition, the association said.

Wright was previously the CEO of the Chicago Sun-Times, guiding the newspaper through a merger with WBEZ. Prior to leading the Sun-Times, Wright was a strategy and business transformation consultant, advising organizations on operational, financial and performance improvement matters.

Wright is the co-founder of SonicMESSENGER, a software-as-a-service startup. She sits on the boards of the American Cancer Society and the Better Government Association and is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council at her alma mater, the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.

“I am honored to join the organization at this important moment, when the opportunity to make a difference in the evolving real estate landscape has never been greater,” Wright said in the news release. “I look forward to getting to work and partnering closely with NAR’s talented staff in the months ahead.”

Goldberg worked at NAR for 30 years, serving in a senior vice president role before rising to the CEO position.

“We are immensely grateful for Bob’s leadership and decades-long service to NAR,” said NAR President Tracy Kasper. “It has been a privilege to work with him in expanding and strengthening our organization, and we congratulate him on his well-deserved retirement. His contributions to our association and our industry have been tremendous.”

Goldberg praised Wright and expressed his thanks to the association. “Nykia’s strategic expertise and forward-looking perspective are exactly what NAR needs to continue advancing its mission in an ever-changing world,” Goldberg said. “I am grateful for the privilege of leading NAR and confident that the association will continue delivering incredible value to its members for generations to come.”