Our CEO Michael Brody-Waite is Stepping Down Later This Year
July 1, 2019 / Share:
NASHVILLE, TN (July 1, 2019) – Michael Brody-Waite, the CEO of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center (EC), announced today his plans to step down from his position later this year. Brody-Waite has led the EC through a critical growth period over the last three years, positioning the city’s entrepreneur organization to a nationally recognized organization.
“Michael has provided significant leadership for the EC at a pivotal time in our life cycle. The work he has done enabled us to scale our value proposition for the city so that we are not only incubating some of the most promising start-up concepts, but also serving as a stronger gateway for the entire city and its many budding entrepreneurs,” said EC Board Chair and Sarah Cannon CEO Dee Anna Smith.
Beth Chase, a Senior Managing Director of Ankura and EC Board Chair Emeritus will chair the Board’s Search Committee. Nashville-based Focus Search Partners, a Vaco Company, has been retained to lead search and recruitment efforts. Brody-Waite will remain in a leadership capacity through the end of this year, enabling ample time for a new leader to be selected and a smooth transition of leadership to take place.
“The EC has benefited from very strong executive leadership to date. As we look ahead, the Board’s focus is on finding a CEO who can continue to cultivate the city’s deep entrepreneurial spirit and take the organization to the next level as we serve this vital part of the city’s economy and creative class,” said Chase.
Brody-Waite took the helm of the EC in July 2016, becoming only the third CEO of the organization, following in the footsteps of Michael Burcham and Stuart McWhorter, two of the city’s top business leaders. He is the former CEO of Nashville-based InQuicker, a health care startup and EC alumnae he co-founded and shepherd through extensive growth until it was acquired in 2015. Prior to InQuicker, he worked in sales leadership at Dell Inc.
In addition to his track record as a successful businessman and entrepreneur, Brody-Waite is also a recovering addict that is active in the recovery community. Once he transitions out of the EC later this year, he intends to pursue his other calling in life – to carry his message of recovery and authenticity to addicts and leaders. This includes writing a book, coaching addicts and leaders and spending quality time with his wife and daughter.
“Leading the EC has been the opportunity of a lifetime. When I came on board, we had very clear objectives and we’ve successfully accomplished them so I felt this was a good time for the next leader to step in and carry the torch forward,” said Brody-Waite. “I am incredibly excited about the EC’s future. There is no limit to the potential of this organization and the team behind it.”
Media contact: Shannon Hunt, 615-321-3110 (O) or 615-975-1455 (M), shannon@tsgnashville.com