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.

For additional information on the Detroit Economic Club governance, click here.