Joe Nguyen, currently the director of Washington state's Department of Commerce, has announced his resignation and is anticipated to take over as the leader of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber. Nguyen informed his staff on Tuesday about his departure, stating he plans to remain in his position until January.
Nguyen expressed his gratitude for the opportunity given to him by Governor Bob Ferguson, stating that he accepted a new role closer to home for personal reasons. The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber, which has approximately 2,600 members, is expected to make a formal announcement regarding its new chief executive officer on Monday.
Nguyen's tenure at the Department of Commerce, which manages a budget of $7.9 billion across more than 100 programs, has focused on various initiatives including affordable housing. Following his resignation, it remains unclear whether an interim director will be appointed or if a new leader will be chosen immediately.
His departure marks a notable change, as he is the first cabinet member under Ferguson to step down from the position, while others have retired. The vacancy follows the prior exit of Rachel Smith, the former president and CEO of the chamber, who transitioned to lead the Washington Roundtable.