Clark will become CEO from March 11, when the board meets next, but Donohue will remain in an advisory capacity.
“Suzanne Clark’s extensive experience through the increasing responsibilities during her more than 16 years at the Chamber, combined with her ambitious vision and ongoing work to strengthen the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, makes her the ultimate choice to lead the organization in the future,” he said. Christopher Lofgren, the chamber’s council chairman, in a statement.
“I am honored to lead the U.S. Chamber of Deputies at a time when our members need us the most,” Clark said in a statement. “U.S. businesses are facing the uncertainty of the pandemic, the challenges of a recession and unequal recovery, strong shifts in government leadership and policies, and near-constant disruptions driven by rapid technological progress.”
Axios only reported on Friday that Clark is likely to be named as Donohue’s successor.
The leadership shuffle comes as the trade group faces a new administration amid an unexpected recession caused by pandemics, which has brought numerous businesses across the country to a standstill.
The traditionally Republican-friendly group also later moved more toward the center. Despite regularly battling with the Obama administration over its health care, regulatory and economic recovery policies and the banker takeover of the GOP takeover of both the House and Senate in the midterm elections during the Obama era, he last year endorsed a lead by the incumbents of the Democratic House, which caused a setback within the organization, among its donors, and even from its prospective beneficiaries.
Shortly afterwards, the chamber parted ways with his political strategist, Scott Reid, who, according to the group, was fired but said he was quitting due to a political move to the left.
During the time of Donohue leading the Chamber, the group became a political powerhouse, usually the best lobbyist in K Street. According to data from the Center for Responsive Politics, the House dropped nearly $ 82 million last year on lobbying efforts.
While the House has worked with the Trump administration on a number of issues, from the GOP’s tax reform to the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, Donohue has regularly divorced former President Donald Trump on issues ranging from tariffs to immigration. Donohue condemned Trump’s attempts to question the outcome of the November election, which culminated in the attack on the Capitol last month.
The chamber was interested in working with the Biden government and giving first praise to President Joe Biden’s $ 1.9 billion relief proposal before arguing that Biden should seek dual compromise instead of a Democratic-only bill. by pressing. Prior to Tuesday’s announcement, Donohue undertook the move from the room’s headquarters across Lafayette Square to meet with Biden and other business leaders on Biden’s proposal.
And in his annual State of American Business speech last month, Donohue said he believes the House and the White House can also work together on an infrastructure package.