Bialecki interested in Chamber post

Photo: Thinkstock
Photo: Thinkstock

BOSTON (SHNS) – Housing and Economic Development Secretary Greg Bialecki has “strong interest” in becoming the next president of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, according to a source close to Bialecki.

Longtime chamber president Paul Guzzi, a former secretary of state, announced in September that he planned to retire after 18 years on the job once a successor had been named.

The executive committee of the chamber’s board tasked a search committee co-chaired by Karen Kaplan, chair and CEO of Hill Holliday, and John Fish, chair and CEO of Suffolk Construction, to lead the search for a new president.

Fish told the News Service that the chamber has assembled a 10-member search committee and hired executive search firm Korn Ferry to lead the search for Guzzi’s replacement. While both the chamber and Korn Ferry are accepting applications, it is also expected that the firm could proactively approach desired candidates to gauge their interest.

Fish said he expects interviews to begin in two to three weeks. “We have a lot, a lot of candidates. I think candidly we’re going to have a very good group,” Fish said. “We’re hoping to have someone on board in four to five months.”

Fish said he did not know if Bialecki had formally applied, though the source close to the secretary indicated he hadn’t.

Bialecki has served in the Patrick administration as secretary of housing and economic development since 2009. Prior to serving as secretary, Bialecki was undersecretary of business development and spent 20 years before joining the Patrick administration as a real estate and environmental attorney at the firms Hill Barlow and DLA Piper.

Asked about his potential candidacy for the job, Bialecki spokesman Matt Sheaff said, “Under the leadership of Governor Patrick, the Massachusetts economy has recovered stronger and faster than virtually the rest of the nation. The secretary is proud to serve in this administration and looks forward to continuing his work over the remainder of the administration.”

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