American Beverage Association leader tapped to succeed departing CEO Dirk Kempthorne

Neely

American Beverage Association CEO Susan Neely has been named the next head of the American Council of Life Insurers, succeeding outgoing CEO Dirk Kempthorne later this summer.

Neely has led the $125 million-revenue American Beverage Association since 2005. In that role, she has spearheaded efforts to prevent states and cities from enacting "soda taxes" on ABA member products, as well as launched initiatives to promote healthy eating choices.

In moving to the $43 million-revenue ACLI, Neely will represent companies providing life insurance, annuities, retirement plans, long-term care and disability income insurance. One of the association's major policy fights in recent years has been against the Obama-era fiduciary rule for retirement planning advisers.

"Susan is a recognized and proven strategic leader who understands the intersection of politics and business and the importance and impact of informed public policy advocacy," Mark Mullin, chairman of ACLI's board of directors, said in a statement.

Before joining ABA, Neely was assistant secretary for public affairs for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and a special assistant to President George W. Bush from 2001-2002. She also is the former senior vice president of the Association of American Medical Colleges and senior vice president of public affairs at the Health Insurance Association of America.

Neely was named Association CEO of Year in CEO Update's 2017 Association Leadership Awards.

"Susan Neely has been a visionary leader of the American Beverage Association," Jeffrey Honickman, chair of ABA's board of directors, said in a statement. "Her unwavering focus on our customers, consumers and the communities we serve has enabled us to advance an agenda that has made a positive impact nationally."

Kempthorne announced in January that he planned to step down from ACLI by early next year after leading the group since 2010. He earned $2 million at ACLI in 2016, according to tax records. Neely earned $1.67 million at ABA that same year.

An ABA spokeswoman said the associartion plans to conduct a search for Neely's successor.

Recruitment firm Heidrick & Struggles assisted in the ACLI search.