Cal Dooley, president and chief executive officer of the Grocery Manufacturers Association, has been chosen as the new head of the American Chemistry Council, replacing Jack Gerard, who announced in June that he is leaving to take the top spot at the American Petroleum Institute.
Dooley has led GMA since it merged with the Food Products Association in January 2007, and was president and CEO of FPA for two years before the merger.
Arlington-based ACC and GMA have been at the forefront of efforts to forestall bans of plastic bags and expanded polystyrene takeout containers in California and elsewhere.
``[Dooley] brings a breadth of experience and leadership skills that are critical to the challenges and opportunities we face in the business of chemistry,'' Bob Wood, chairman of ACC, said in a news release. Wood also is chairman and CEO of Middlebury, Conn.-based Chemtura Corp.
``Cal's knowledge of industry, his excellent bipartisan reputation on Capitol Hill, his savvy business sense, and his political acumen make him a great choice to lead our association. I strongly believe that Cal's selection to succeed Jack makes for a seamless transition.''
In a statement issued by ACC, Dooley said that he will approach advocacy from a business perspective and that he looks forward ``to building broad-based coalitions with industry partners and stakeholders.''
A former congressman from California, Dooley founded the New Democrat Coalition in 1997, a group of moderate, pro-business legislators. In 2005, Dooley was appointed to the president's advisory committee for trade policy and negotiations.