The chief executive of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce has announced he will step down from his position next year as his contract is set to expire.

On Monday, Dec. 2, chamber CEO Bruce Williams announced he will be moving away from his role in June, and the chamber has begun the search for his successor.

Williams joined the chamber in June 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, finding himself in charge of the institution that was "facing an existential risk as traditional revenue streams evaporated," according to a news release.

B次元官网网址淚t has been a transformative time as we experienced the pandemic and recovery and have made significant progress in DEI, Indigenous relations and diverse revenue development,B次元官网网址� Williams noted in the release. B次元官网网址淲e have also engaged younger business people into chamber culture, which has brought fresh energy and perspective to our organization.B次元官网网址�

Chamber board chair Kris Wirk said the local business community was fortunate to have Williams at the helm, adding "under BruceB次元官网网址檚 stewardship, the chamber has navigated through unprecedented challenges, most notably the COVID-19 pandemic. His leadership during this critical time was instrumental in shaping policies and helping our members adapt."

The chamber says a number of events will be planned in the coming year to allow chamber members and the community to connect with Williams before he leaves his role.