Joe Nguyen is the brand new president and chief govt officer of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, the group introduced Monday.
Lower than per week after revealing that he was stepping down from his position as director of Washington state’s Division of Commerce, Nguyen was confirmed as the pinnacle of Seattle’s enterprise advocacy group.
A tech veteran who beforehand labored at Microsoft and Expedia, Nguyen beforehand served within the Washington State Senate representing Seattle’s thirty fourth Legislative District. He stated his focus as Chamber CEO will probably be on making certain the area is a beautiful place to do enterprise, develop firms, and create jobs.
“The Chamber performs a vital position in advocating for coverage outcomes that help companies and our area’s financial stability,” Nguyen stated in a information launch. “My precedence is to work carefully with our members and policymakers to strengthen the enterprise local weather, guarantee sensible use of public sources, and advance options that help job creation, affordability, and a secure, thriving regional financial system.”
The Chamber job has been open since Rachel Smith left because the group’s president and CEO to turn out to be president of the Washington Roundtable. Nguyen succeeds interim Chamber President and CEO Gabriella Buono.
“He brings an incisive, results-oriented method and the power to work throughout sectors to advance a robust, aggressive financial system for the Seattle area,” Chamber Board Chair Teresa Hutson, a Microsoft govt, stated in an announcement.
Nguyen advised Commerce workers final Tuesday that he was leaving after one yr on the job, however he didn’t say the place he was headed. Rumors started circulating on-line and amongst enterprise lobbyists in latest days, in response to the Washington State Customary, which famous that Nguyen is the primary member of Gov. Bob Ferguson’s govt cupboard to give up, although others have retired.
At Commerce, Nguyen managed a finances of $7.9 billion and administered greater than 100 packages within the areas of housing, vitality, neighborhood and financial growth, native authorities and enterprise companies.
The Seattle Chamber is an impartial enterprise group with 2,600 members.
Nguyen, who will formally assume the Chamber position on the finish of January, is a lifelong Washington resident and graduate of Seattle College, the place he earned levels in finance and humanities.
Beforehand:
- Can one company reboot Washington state? Commerce chief brings tech to the duty
- Techie-turned-lawmaker makes use of his Microsoft chops to problem the established order as a state senator

