After major departures, Business Council of Alabama plans for its future

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BCA President and CEO William J. Canary
BCA President and CEO William J. Canary

Following a wave of high-profile member-company departures, the Business Council of Alabama Board of Directors met via conference call Monday to be apprised of the ongoing work of its Executive Committee the last several months to implement its plan for the transition and succession of executive leadership at the organization.

“Today’s meeting brought the Board up to date on the efforts to identify a high-quality, dynamic leader and on-board that individual by September 1, 2018, but not later than January 1, 2019,” said BCA Chairman Perry Hand. “Throughout this process, it’s always been about what’s in the best interest of the organization as a whole and not just meeting arbitrary deadlines. Our organization has never had a smooth transition of power, and it’s imperative that we get this right.”

Last week, Alabama’s largest health insurer Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama (BCBSAL) joined Alabama Power, Regions Bank and PowerSouth Energy Cooperative in leaving the BCA due to dissatisfaction with BCA’s leadership under President and CEO Billy Canary.

The selection committee, which is comprised of members of the Executive Committee, will begin their work immediately to identify and hire an individual to lead the organization into the 2019 legislative session and into the future. Former BCA Chairman Carl Jamison was named chairman of the selection committee. Other members of the selection committee are BCA 2017 Chairman Jeff Coleman, BCA 2018 Chairman Perry Hand, BCA Vice Chairman Denson Henry, BCA Executive Committee Member Wayne Hutchens, and BCA 2016 Chairman Tommy Lee.

Members of the transition committee were also named. The transition committee is tasked with overseeing all the tasks essential to a successful transition of power, including the on-boarding process for a new president and CEO.

“The BCA has achieved major successes through the years under the leadership of Billy Canary and the entire team at the BCA” added 2017 BCA Chairman Jeff Coleman. “There is definitely more work to do, which is why the BCA is focused on being a catalyst to bring growth and prosperity to our great state. We are currently in the middle of an election year that will see a new Legislature elected – a Legislature that will have to develop effective solutions for infrastructure, education, and health care, to name a few. As an organization that respectfully represents over 1 million working Alabamians, we are strongly committed to the work ahead of us to move Alabama forward.”

On May 21, the BCA Executive Committee adopted a formal Transition and Succession Plan, the first in the organization’s 33-year history. The plan established guidelines to provide for an orderly transition of leadership. Monday, the BCA Board of Directors accepted that plan with unanimous support.