The leader of Victoria’s peak business lobby group has resigned to become the new boss of the Melbourne Football Club.
The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) announced on Tuesday that chief executive Paul Guerra had stood down from the role after more than five years.
Mr Guerra commenced as VCCI chief executive in February 2020, just before the onset of the Covid19 pandemic.
Along with leading the organisation through the pandemic, Mr Guerra also oversaw the merger of Melbourne Chamber of Commerce and Committee for Melbourne, the development of the women in business program Chamber Change, and secured the global rights to co-host the 14th World Chambers Congress (14WCC), which will be held in Melbourne this September.
VCCI president Adrian Kloeden congratulated Mr Guerra on his new role in the AFL and thanked him for his service.
“Paul’s passion, dedication and strategic leadership have strengthened the Victorian Chamber and made a lasting difference for our members and the Victorian economy,” Mr Kloeden said.
Mr Guerra said it was a privilege to have served as chief executive of the VCCI and that he was proud of what the organisation had achieved over the last five years, especially during Covid 19.
“The pandemic had a massive impact – not just for me personally, but for the entire business community. It tested resilience, demanded agility and taught us all the true meaning of leadership and advocacy under pressure,” Mr Guerra said.
“That experience went on to define the entirety of my tenure and shaped the work we have done together to strengthen Victorian businesses and the broader economy.”
Mr Guerra will replace Gary Pert as chief executive of the Demons.
