DETROIT (April 3, 2017) – The Detroit Economic Club (DEC) today announced its Board of Directors accepted a plan that calls for President and CEO Beth Chappell to conclude her career at the Club at the end of 2017.
Chappell will leave the Club at the end of the year to become Executive Chairwoman of RediMinds, Inc. a data strategy, engineering and innovation firm she co-founded with her son-in-law, Madhu Reddiboina, in 2016.
Beth began as CEO of the DEC in 2002. “At the time, I thought I would do this for a few years. Here we are, almost 15 wonderful years later,” said Chappell. “This is an incredible job. The members of the Club are awesome, the speakers are the prominent voices of our time, the Board is comprised of our region’s top professionals and the DEC staff is A+. The Young Leader and Student Programs are thriving. And, of course, it has been a privilege to work with the best boss ever – Bill Ford. But, after a terrific 15 years at the DEC and as a recent ‘empty nester,’ it is time to move on.”
The DEC Board has established a committee to identify a succession plan for the President and CEO.
“Beth has been both a great partner at the Detroit Economic Club and a wonderful friend for many years. Under her guidance, the club grew not only its memberships and sponsorships, but also its impact on the community and prestige on the world stage,” said Bill Ford, Executive Chairman of Ford Motor Company and the current Chair of the Club’s Board. Ford will step down as Club’s Chairman this summer. DTE Chairman and CEO Gerry Anderson will succeed Ford as Chairman.
Chappell plans to remain involved in the Club. “I have been a member of the DEC since 1990, long before becoming its CEO. I have met so many of my friends and business associates here over the years. I love it and look forward to supporting Incoming DEC Chairman Gerry Anderson, my successor and his or her team as they take this 83-year-old Detroit gem to new heights.”
In 2002, the Economic Club of Detroit was reborn as the Detroit Economic Club and has been recognized as one of the Top Ten speaking forums in the world. The Club has long been a valued non-partisan platform for the discussion and debate of important business, government and social issues. With 3,800 current members, including 1,150 Young Leaders, the Club hosts more than 30 events per year, attracting the most prominent speakers to its podium. Its speakers have ranged from the CEOs of Fortune 100 companies to U.S. Cabinet members and other senior state and national government officials – including every U.S. President since Richard Nixon.
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