U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO Thomas Donohue will leave his job, according to multiple reports Friday.
Suzanne Clark, the chamber's president, was expected to replace Donohue, Axios and The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the situation.
In saying an announcement was expected next week, the Journal reported Donohue had planned to exit the organization next year but decided to leave early after the chamber's board agreed to name Clark his successor, per the Hill.
"The Board is engaged in a rigorous multiyear succession process to name a new CEO," a spokesperson told The Hill. "When a final decision has been reached, there will be an announcement."
The 82-year-old Donohue served as president and CEO atop one of Washington's most powerful lobbying groups from 1997-2019. Clark took over as president in 2019.
Donohue played a huge role in transforming the Chamber of Commerce into a major political force. He took over at a time of waning influence for the organization and revived it by taking strong pro-business stances on policy issues such as taxes, regulation and free trade.
The organization has become a major donor to Republicans and a strong supporter of pro-business policies. The nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics said the chamber spent a total of $1.6 billion on lobbying efforts in Washington from 1998 to last year.
In 2020, however, the chamber endorsed 32 House Democrats before the November election. Donohue also angered conservatives when he said former President Donald Trump should concede the presidential election after vote totals showed Joe Biden had prevailed.
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