Jim Clay, chairman and CEO of the Westfield Group has been named chairman of Team Northeast Ohio (Team NEO), the region's business attraction, growth and technology-based business development organization.
Jim Clay, CEO and chairman of Westfield Group, named Team NEO's new chairman CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Jim Clay, chairman and CEO of the Westfield Group has been named chairman of Team Northeast Ohio (Team NEO), the region's business attraction, growth and technology-based business development organization.
Clay succeeds Ward J. "Tim" Timken, Jr., chairman, CEO and president of TimkenSteel Corp. and David T. Abbott, executive director of The George Gund Foundation, who served as interim co-chairs during the organization's transition.
Clay called the appointment an honor and said he's committed to working with the board "to help our region to compete globally," he said in a written statement.
"Jim knows Team NEO well and was instrumental in the process which led to its consolidation with NorTech," said Timken. "His leadership will be valuable as the organization leverages its new strengths to help accelerate the pace of job creation in Northeast Ohio."
Timken and Abbott step down after acting as co-chairs for the Regional Competitiveness Council (RCC) and interim co-chairs for Team NEO. Both were part of a steering committee that recommended a new regional economic competitiveness strategy aimed at accelerating job growth in Northeast Ohio. Both will remain on the board.
Clay has been with the Westfield Group, a customer-focused insurance and banking group of businesses based in Medina County for 35 years, working in nearly every aspect of the company, including insurance underwriter. Under Clay's leadership, Westfield's surplus exceeded $1.9 billion, the most in the company's history. Recently, Westfield announced that Clay will retire in March 2016,
A graduate of The Ohio State University, besides being active on a national level with insurance organizations, he's also active with several economic development organizations in Northeast Ohio including the Cleveland's Playhouse Square Foundation.