San Jose Chamber of Commerce CEO quits to take East Bay instructing job

SAN JOSE — The highest boss on the San Jose Chamber of Commerce has give up his put up as chief govt officer in a transfer that forces the enterprise group to search out its third chief in three years.

Derrick Seaver has determined to depart his job as CEO of the San Jose Chamber to take a instructing job with a Christian college within the East Bay, the chamber confirmed Tuesday night time.

Seaver has had the Chamber CEO job for simply over two years. He took the reins on the San Jose Chamber in April 2021.

In October 2020, Seaver’s predecessor, Matt Mahood, resigned from the enterprise group within the wake of a political promoting marketing campaign that was blasted for its racist overtones.

“After I took the job two years in the past, the San Jose Chamber was in a troublesome spot, each publicly and internally,” Seaver stated in an interview with this information group. “It was a really troublesome time.”

As a result of controversy over the promoting marketing campaign, the San Jose Chamber stepped away from its political advocacy efforts that had turn out to be a chamber hallmark through the Mahood tenure.

The political advert that in the end compelled Mahood out of his CEO job was a put up that confirmed Black males engulfed in tear gasoline or billowing smoke with a message that posed the query “Do you actually wish to signal on to this?”

Then often called The Silicon Valley Group, the group convened an emergency assembly that resulted in Mahood being positioned on paid depart. Just a few days after the political advert surfaced, Mahood abruptly resigned as CEO.

Below Seaver’s management, the chamber obtained again to its roots as an advocate for companies, particularly small companies. The identify additionally was modified again to the San Jose Chamber of Commerce throughout Seaver’s tenure.

Seaver had been concerned with the chamber previous to taking the position of CEO. He additionally served as chief of workers for Santa Clara County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg.

“We thank Derrick Seaver for his two-and-a-half years of service as president and CEO,” stated Dee Ann Harn, chair of the San Jose Chamber’s board of administrators.

The outgoing CEO is predicted to formally depart his San Jose Chamber job on Aug. 31. Seaver has agreed to take a instructing put up at Berean Christian Excessive College in Walnut Creek.

“He (Seaver) was instrumental in serving to flip our inner course of round, create a more healthy monetary scenario and reprioritize programming and member companies,” Harn stated.

Tony Mirenda, a senior govt with Blach Development, has been named interim CEO of the San Jose Chamber whereas board members embark on what could possibly be a months-long quest to discover a new high boss for the enterprise group.

“Our chamber stays dedicated to working with our native enterprise neighborhood to advance its success,” Harn stated.