Former Michigan governor and National Association of Manufacturers CEO to step down in mid-2017

Engler

Business Roundtable President John Engler will retire from the $35 million-revenue organization on July 1, 2017.

Engler, 68, announced his retirement Thursday, saying next year would be a good time to step down given BRT will have a new executive committee chairman in January. He also cited family obligations, with his triplet daughters set to graduate college in spring.

"The outlook in early 2017 to achieve passage of major components of the Business Roundtable economic growth agenda is very bright," Engler said in a statement. "Tax reform, regulatory relief and immigration reform are all possible with the new administration and Congress. I expect the pace to be brisk as everyone gets to work next year."

Engler joined BRT in 2011. He previously spent six years as CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers. He also is the former three-term Republican governor of Michigan, having held office from 1991 to 2002.

Engler's announcement came roughly one week after BRT named JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon chair of its executive committee. Dimon, who is one of President-elect Donald Trump's economic advisers, will replace current chair and Caterpillar CEO Doug Oberhelman.

"John has earned an enormous amount of respect with the CEO members of Business Roundtable, within the D.C. political community and in the broader business arena for his sound judgment and depth of experience," Dimon said in a statement.

BRT did not announce the process it would use to select Engler's successor. The group represents CEOs of some of the nation's largest companies.