RALEIGH — N.C. Chamber Chair David Fountain announced today that Lew Ebert, President & CEO, has informed the Executive Committee of his intention to retire effective November 30, 2018. Gary Salamido, current Vice President of Government Affairs, has been named the Chief Operating Officer and Acting President.
“Lew joined the Chamber in 2006 as our President and CEO and has led transformational changes in our state’s business climate,” said Fountain in a statement from the Chamber. “Under Lew’s direction, the N.C. Chamber has led efforts to align our education systems for businesses to attract top talent, backed tax reform to make our state more competitive, and led the fight for infrastructure funding to provide long term funding for our roads. Under Lew’s leadership, the N.C. Chamber Foundation was formed and developed the Vision 2030 plan, a future-focused roadmap to expand economic growth and prosperity in North Carolina. These efforts culminated in the N.C. Chamber being named 2016 State Chamber of the Year by the Council of State Chambers.”
In the statement, Ebert thanked the Chamber for the opportunity to serve his adopted home state. “I am thankful for the opportunity to lead the North Carolina Chamber for the past 12 years. Growing up in Pennsylvania and working in Kansas prior to our family moving here, I’ve come to appreciate North Carolina as a wonderful place to live, work and raise our family. The North Carolina Chamber has a bright future. Thanks to our staff and volunteers we have established strong foundations to garner a globally competitive workforce and boost an enviable business climate that fuels statewide economic prosperity, and I believe now is the right time for me to make this decision.”
The N.C. Chamber’s mission is to shape statewide public policy by initiating market-driven solutions within the legislative, regulatory and political arenas.
Salamido, Acting President and COO, said, “When I joined the N.C. Chamber team seven years ago after many years in our state’s business community, I saw ample opportunities to advance pro-business policies that would benefit North Carolina. “It’s been exciting to watch North Carolina move up the list, from nearly the bottom to the top, in rankings for business climate and I thank Lew for bringing me on the team to lead the government affairs efforts. The challenges that are still ahead are only outweighed by our opportunities, and I’m grateful to be given the opportunity to lead the N.C. Chamber at this time.”
Led by Ward Nye, CEO of Martin Marietta, the Board and Executive Committee will now begin the process of a thorough search both internally and externally to identify a successor.
