The Salt Lake Chamber has announced that Derek Miller has been named to lead the organization as president and CEO. In addition to becoming the 19th leader of the business association, Miller will also lead the Downtown Alliance, an organization that represents commercial property owners and business interests in Salt Lake City’s Central Business District.
Miller replaces Lane Beattie, who will retire in May after serving as president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance for the past 15 years.
“I am thrilled to be part of the Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance team. Utah’s economic future has never been brighter, and these organizations stand at the pinnacle of influence and responsibility to ensure that prosperity continues to spread across the state,” said Miller. “Utah’s economy has flourished because of good people who work together. As our state continues to grow, we must ensure those principles of cooperation and collaboration continue. As we do so, Utah has the opportunity to transform from the “Crossroads of the West” to the “Crossroads of the World.” I am honored to join a team that is dedicated to making that vision a reality.”
Miller was most recently president and CEO of World Trade Center Utah. He previously served as chief of staff to Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, overseeing the governor’s office and state operations. He also served as managing director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development for Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. Miller began his career in Washington, D.C., as a management consultant with Arthur Andersen and as legal counsel for a congressional committee in the House of Representatives. He is a graduate of the J. Reuben Clark Law School and holds a master of public administration degree from the Romney Institute of Public Management at Brigham Young University.
“Derek is a proven leader with experience in both the public and private sector. He has spent the majority of his career focused on Utah’s prosperity and growing our economy into one of the most competitive in the country. He knows this state and understands the needs of our business community. I feel confident he is the right person to lead the Salt Lake Chamber into the future,” said Wilford Clyde, chairman of the Salt Lake Chamber board. “I want to thank the search committee for the long hours and their commitment to the selection process.”
The search committee selected Miller after a three-month search process. The committee, composed of past and current board chairs of the Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance and key business leaders, presented a recommendation to the executive board of the chamber for a vote. The selection was endorsed by the chamber’s board of governors.
“I cannot express how grateful I am to have been able to lead this great organization for the last 15 years,” said Beattie. “The successes of the Salt Lake Chamber and the Downtown Alliance would not have been possible without the dedication and participation of this state’s business community. By working together, we have accomplished many great things, and I have no doubt that with the continued leadership of our board, the engagement of our business leaders and the commitment from this great staff that those successes will continue for many years to come. I am confident Derek Miller will be a great leader for the Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance.”
World Trade Center Utah expressed its gratitude for Miller’s service to the organization. “Since Derek was introduced as WTC Utah’s president and CEO in June of 2014, the organization has experienced phenomenal growth and hundreds of Utah companies have expanded their business overseas,” said Scott Anderson, chair of the WTC Utah board of directors. “On behalf of the board, I express my appreciation to Derek for his exceptional leadership in overseeing and advancing the state’s prominent position in the global business environment.”
Anderson will chair a search committee to seek Miller’s replacement at WTC Utah, the organization said.
Miller will assume his new duties at the chamber and Downtown Alliance on April 30.