Bill Ford to Retire as Chair of
Detroit Economic Club; DTE Energy's Gerry Anderson to Take Reins
DETROIT (February 23, 2017) – The Detroit Economic Club (DEC) today
announced Bill Ford, Ford Motor Company Executive Chairman, will retire as
volunteer Chair after serving the DEC for more than 12 years. Gerry
Anderson, DTE Energy Chairman and CEO, will succeed Ford in the Club’s
leadership role.
“I believe strongly in the mission of the Detroit Economic Club as it
serves as a point of pride and promise for Detroit and plays an important
role as the region works to reinvent itself,” said Ford. “I am
particularly proud of the progress the Club has made through the Young
Leaders program, which is helping engage and develop our next generation
of leaders here at home.”
During Ford’s tenure, the DEC launched the Young Leaders program, the
Career Readiness Academy, which helps high school students prepare for the
jobs of the future, and expanded the Educational Outreach program, which
connects students from the community with the leaders and issues of the
day. During this time, the Club also hosted The National Summit, a highly
successful discussion of ways to revitalize America’s economy.
Ford turns over the reins to Anderson at the Club’s annual Chairman’s
Dinner in July at The Henry Ford. Anderson, a member of the Club, said he
is looking forward to serving an organization that has been such a fixture
of Detroit, with roots dating to 1934.
“The DEC serves an important role, especially as a key platform for the
discussion of important national and international issues,” Anderson said.
“I am excited about the opportunity to lead the Club’s continued growth
and programming during a remarkable time in Detroit’s history.”
Anderson joined DTE Energy from McKinsey in 1993, and was named President
in 2005. He was named CEO in 2010 and Chairman in 2011. Anderson is
involved in various local community and civic activities, serving on the
boards of trustees of The Nature Conservancy (Michigan Chapter), The Henry
Ford, the McGregor Fund, Business Leaders for Michigan, the Downtown
Detroit Partnership and the West Michigan Policy Forum.
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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