Fierce "will be continue to be part of Jazz at Lincoln Center as a member of our board," a spokesperson said.

Before coming to Jazz at Lincoln Center, Gordon was senior vice president of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where he was responsible for jazz, education, and outreach. Previously, he served as executive director for the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts and Louisiana Division of the Arts.

In his new post, Gordon will oversee education and programming, and will "lead the organization's effort to expand the reach and impact of that programming nationally and internationally," according to a statement.

Artistic director Wynton Marsalis said of Gordon, "He shares our commitment to entertain and educate people around the world with first-class jazz music. We are extremely fortunate to have someone with his experience and dedication to lead us even deeper into our mission: to elevate through the art of swing."

The change in leadership, which is effective immediately, comes months after the opening of Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center's most ambitious undertaking. The hall, located in New York's Columbus Circle, includes three performance spaces, including a jazz club with nightly performances, as well as recording studios and classrooms.

For much of its history, Jazz at Lincoln Center was run by its founders, Marsalis and executive director Rob Gibson. Gibson was ousted in December 2000, and eventually replaced by Bruce MacCombie, former dean of Boston University's School of the Arts. In 2002, Fierce, a retired banker and the treasurer of Jazz at Lincoln Center's board, was named to the newly created post of president and chief executive officer; Gordon succeeded MacCombie last year.