January 19, 2022 – HAMILTON, ON: The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce’s Board Chair, Louis Grilli, has accepted the resignation of President and CEO, Keanin Loomis, which will be effective March 4, 2022.

“Keanin has led the complete transformation of our 176-year old institution,” said Louis Grilli, Hamilton Chamber Board Chair. “When he started in 2013, the Board tasked him with reestablishing the Chamber into a relevant, modern pillar institution in our community – I would say he’s done that and then some. He is leaving the organization in optimal health for his successor.” 

During his tenure, Keanin has worked with myriad community and regional groups to promote an inclusive economy, and has been an advocate for city building initiatives that advance the Hamilton economy. Most notably, he convinced Hamilton City Council to opt in to the legal sale of cannabis and his inexhaustible support for the city’s B-Line LRT project paid off with last year’s announcement of provincial and federal investment in the project.

“Over the past 9 years, he has brought energy and vision to the Chamber,” said Grilli. “He has been a dynamic leader for his team, the Hamilton business community and throughout the GTHA.”

Keanin is a steadfast champion of small business. In 2021, he and the Chamber team led the charge on bringing Hamilton Day back to the city – a one-day shopping event designed to inject much-needed dollars into our local businesses.

It was one of many ways in which Keanin has supported the Hamilton businesses through the pandemic. The Chamber also launched an economic blueprint for Hamilton’s recovery, a one-stop COVID Concierge website and phone line to field questions, and hosted regular webinars that address the current rules and restrictions pertinent to business.

“Keanin Loomis has created a remarkable legacy not simply at the Hamilton Chamber, but in the Chamber movement provincially and nationally,” said Ontario Chamber President & CEO, Rocco Rossi. “A brilliant, values-driven, tireless leader, Keanin has always put the focus on building prosperous communities alongside building a prosperous economy. We are sorry to see him leave, but know that he will continue to make a significant difference wherever he goes next.”

The Chamber Board of Directors will initiate a nationwide search for Keanin’s successor in the coming weeks. During the organization’s transition, Marie Nash, the Chamber’s Chief Operating Officer, will step in as interim CEO.

As Keanin embarks on his next leadership opportunity in Hamilton, the entire Chamber team and Board of Directors wish him the very best.

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KEANIN LOOMIS BIOGRAPHY
Keanin has been the President & CEO of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce since 2013. Prior to that he was Chief Operating Officer of Innovation Factory, Hamilton’s Regional Innovation Centre, and a lawyer at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld in Washington, DC. He is a graduate of the University of Waterloo and the College of William & Mary School of Law. He immigrated to Canada from the U.S. in 1986, and moved to Hamilton in 2009. He serves on the Board of the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority and proudly lives with his wife and three children in Hamilton’s lower city.

ABOUT THE HAMILTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Representing over 1,000 businesses and institutions that employ more than 75,000 people in Hamilton, Ontario, the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce is the city’s 177 year-old voice of business and thought leader in commerce. In addition to helping provide solutions to the day-to-day challenges of its member businesses, the Hamilton Chamber provides leadership on city building initiatives that are designed to stimulate commerce and increase prosperity in the community.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Marie Nash
Chief Operating Officer, Incoming Interim CEO
m.nash@hamiltonchamber.ca 

Cassandra D’Ambrosio

Manager of Communications & Marketing

c.dambrosio@hamiltonchamber.ca

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