Hank Jackson plans to step down as CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management after leading the $122-million revenue organization since 2010. Jackson, 65, has announced he will retire, effective Dec. 31.

Executive recruiter Leslie Hortum of Spencer Stuart is assisting SHRM in the search for a new president and CEO.

SHRM is the largest association for HR professionals, and grew even larger during Jackson's tenure. SHRM now counts 289,000 members, more than 575 affiliate chapters in the United States and engages in global partnerships and events around the world.

Jackson began his career in accounting, working for firms such as KPMG, with a specialty in technology. He spent 30 years with Howard University in IT and finance, rising to executive vice president/CFO and treasurer before joining SHRM in 2006 as chief global finance and business affairs officer.

He was named SHRM interim CEO in 2010, and later told CEO Update in a 2013 interview he was surprised to be offered the CEO job after a search by Korn Ferry. Asked about his future in that interview, Jackson highlighted potential retirement and strongly alluded to finishing his career in the HR profession.

He also said that despite his technical background, his career has hinged on managing people.

"[A]s I look back over my career and being in finance and treasury and IT, … this job is the best job you could have. When I look back over any measure of success, it was always people. It was always the people you hired."