IRS chief steps down to lead Red Cross

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- IRS Commissioner Mark Everson has been named president and CEO of the American Red Cross, the humanitarian relief organization announced Wednesday afternoon.

Everson, who has served as the head of the federal tax agency since 2003, will begin his new post on May 29.

"We know Mark will bring new energy and drive terrific results when his tenure officially begins next month," said Red Cross Chairman Bonnie McElveen-Hunter in a statement.

In an email to IRS employees, Everson said, "I look over the past four years with great pride and satisfaction. Together, we have rebalanced the organization, bringing life to the equation: Service + Enforcement = Compliance."

During Everson's four-year tenure, IRS audit rates and revenue suggested for collection has gone up. He has, however, taken heat for outsourcing some of the agency's collection efforts to private collection agencies. He defends the move, which has been highly criticized by the National Taxpayer Advocate among others, as worthwhile despite its cost given that the agency doesn't have the staff to deal with the number of collection cases on file.