Ted Townsend will no longer serve as the CEO of the Greater Memphis Chamber.
The Chamber announced Thursday that Townsend will be stepping down from the role and Board Chair Duncan Williams will serve as interim CEO.
“The Greater Memphis Chamber Board of Directors and Chamber Staff will continue to focus on our core mission of economic development, workforce initiatives, and supporting the business community throughout Greater Memphis,” The Chamber said in a statement. “We wish Ted the best in his future endeavors and thank him for his dedication to the Chamber and the Greater Memphis region.”
Townsend was voted in as president and CEO of the Chamber in 2022. Under his leadership the organization announced milestones such as an economy hitting a high of $100 billion and more.
The Chamber’s reliance on research, data, and preparedness under his watch has helped facilitate the America’s River Crossing for a new bridge across the Mississippi, enabled the quick and controversial decision by xAI to locate in Memphis, and continued the ongoing Digital Delta technology innovation project. Last year the organization was named the 2025 Chamber of the Year in Category 4 (Regional Chamber) by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.
Recent tax forms showed Townsend’s latest salary was $671,801 with $49,812 in benefits.