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The Business Council
Organization

The Business Council is a nonpartisan organization of business leaders headquartered in Washington, D.C. It holds meetings several times a year for high-level policy discussions.

The organization has been described as one of the most influential commerce groups in the United States, with U.S. presidents regularly seeking its advice.

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Mission

The Business Council allows global CEOs to gather and network along with leaders in politics, science, and academia.8 The organization is guided by the belief that the business community's contributions to public discourse and governance are in the interest of the common good of the American people.910 Member CEOs discuss strategies and innovation for their respective companies, as well as providing input on government policy.11

Membership is by invitation-only and limited to CEOs of leading multinational businesses personally selected by fellow members of The Business Council.12131415 The organization is strictly nonpartisan and headquartered in Washington, D.C.16

During the COVID-19 pandemic, The Business Council helped global companies navigate the public health crisis.17 The organization conducted weekly CEO calls at the height of the pandemic, inviting chief executives and other experts to discuss COVID vaccines, treatments, and other topics.18

In collaboration with The Conference Board, The Business Council issues a quarterly “Measure of CEO Confidence,” surveying more than 100 CEOs about current economic conditions and expectations about the future.19 The chief executives also share their sentiments about U.S. employment, recruiting, wages, capital spending, and other economic indicators.20 Roger W. Ferguson, Jr., vice chairman of The Business Council, has appeared on CNBC to discuss the survey findings.21

Leadership

Marlene Colucci is CEO of The Business Council.22 Appointed in 2013, Colucci has held leadership positions in public policy at the White House, U.S. Department of Labor, and American Hotel and Lodging Association.23 She describes the organization as "an important voice for the business community with a high level of personal engagement by its members.”24

Prior to Colucci, Philip Cassidy was executive director of The Business Council for more than two decades.25

History

The Business Council was founded by Secretary of Commerce Daniel C. Roper and investment banker Sidney Weinberg as the Business Advisory Council for the United States Department of Commerce in 1933, under President Franklin D. Roosevelt.26272829 It formed the Industrial Advisory Board for the National Recovery Administration during the Great Depression.30 It also established committees to discuss the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Banking Act of 1935 and the Social Security Act.31

According to the Detroit Free Press, the organization was designed “for corporate titans to offer counsel and advise to the federal government.”32 It was renamed The Business Council as an organization independent from the Department of Commerce in 1961, under President John F. Kennedy.33 In 2009, then-President Barack Obama claimed, “Every President since Franklin Delano Roosevelt has sought the advice of the Business Council.”34

In October 2024, the Minnesota Star Tribune described The Business Council as “one of the most influential national commerce groups.”35

Current executive committee

The executive committee is composed of the following people:36373839

Chair

Members

Former chairs

References

  1. The Business Council, Official website, Background Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine http://www.thebusinesscouncil.org/about/background.aspx ↩

  2. Dow Chairman and CEO Andrew Liveris Elected Chairman, The Business Council Archived 2012-10-22 at the Wayback Machine, dow.com, October 19, 2012 http://www.dow.com/news/all-news/article/?id=/company-news/dow-chairman-and-ceo-andrew-liveris-elected-chairman%C2%A0-business-council#.UIWXQIba-So ↩

  3. Press Release: The Dow Chemical Company, Dow Chairman and CEO Andrew Liveris Elected Chairman, The Business Council, Yahoo!, October 19, 2012 https://finance.yahoo.com/news/dow-chairman-ceo-andrew-liveris-174000939.html ↩

  4. Dow Chief To Head National Business Organization Archived 2013-12-19 at the Wayback Machine, WSGW http://www.wsgw.com/common/more.php?m=15&r=1&item_id=4221 ↩

  5. "Amazon's Jeff Bezos appointed chairman of Washington-based Business Council". Washington Post. Retrieved 2017-08-12. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/on-small-business/amazons-jeff-bezos-appointed-chairman-of-washington-based-business-council/2014/10/20/14a59828-5635-11e4-809b-8cc0a295c773_story.html ↩

  6. "Remarks to the Business Council | The American Presidency Project". www.presidency.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2025-03-10. https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/remarks-the-business-council-3 ↩

  7. Gilyard, Burl (2024-10-24). "Target CEO Brian Cornell will lead influential Business Council". www.startribune.com. Retrieved 2025-03-10. https://www.startribune.com/business-council-brian-cornell-chair-executive-committee-national/601168345 ↩

  8. Gangitano, Alex (2020-09-15). "Quarterly report: Lobbyist's slide decks take off". The Hill. Retrieved 2022-07-07. https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/lobbyist-profiles/516398-quarterly-report-lobbyists-slide-decks-take-off/ ↩

  9. "VTB brings Bolshoi ballet to Kennedy Center". POLITICO. Retrieved 2017-08-12. http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/politico-influence/2016/10/vtb-brings-bolshoi-ballet-to-kennedy-center-216871 ↩

  10. "About Us – The Business Council". businesscouncil.com. Retrieved 2017-08-12. http://businesscouncil.com/about-us/#_background ↩

  11. Gilyard, Burl (2024-10-24). "Target CEO Brian Cornell will lead influential Business Council". www.startribune.com. Retrieved 2025-03-10. https://www.startribune.com/business-council-brian-cornell-chair-executive-committee-national/601168345 ↩

  12. The Business Council, Official website, Background Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine http://www.thebusinesscouncil.org/about/background.aspx ↩

  13. "Amazon's Jeff Bezos appointed chairman of Washington-based Business Council". Washington Post. Retrieved 2017-08-12. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/on-small-business/amazons-jeff-bezos-appointed-chairman-of-washington-based-business-council/2014/10/20/14a59828-5635-11e4-809b-8cc0a295c773_story.html ↩

  14. Harrison, J. D. (2023-04-16). "Amazon's Jeff Bezos appointed chairman of Washington-based Business Council". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-06-20. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/on-small-business/amazons-jeff-bezos-appointed-chairman-of-washington-based-business-council/2014/10/20/14a59828-5635-11e4-809b-8cc0a295c773_story.html ↩

  15. Cain, Carol. "Gilbert's growing profile puts him in exclusive business company". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2022-07-07. https://www.freep.com/story/money/business/columnists/carol-cain/2018/10/13/gilberts-growing-profile-puts-him-exclusive-company/1590070002/ ↩

  16. "Amazon's Jeff Bezos appointed chairman of Washington-based Business Council". Washington Post. Retrieved 2017-08-12. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/on-small-business/amazons-jeff-bezos-appointed-chairman-of-washington-based-business-council/2014/10/20/14a59828-5635-11e4-809b-8cc0a295c773_story.html ↩

  17. Gangitano, Alex (2020-10-08). "Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to lead global CEO group". The Hill. Retrieved 2022-07-07. https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/business-a-lobbying/520219-microsoft-ceo-satya-nadella-to-lead-global-ceo-group/ ↩

  18. "Episode 174: Exploring the World of CEOs with Marlene Colucci". walton.uark.edu. Retrieved 2024-06-20. https://walton.uark.edu/be-epic-podcast/episodes/exploring-the-world-of-ceos-with-marlene-colucci.php ↩

  19. "CEO Confidence Improved in Q1 2024 For the First Time in Two Years". Los Angeles Times. 2024-03-24. Retrieved 2024-06-20. https://www.latimes.com/b2bpublishing/banking-and-finance-trends-updates-and-2024-visionaries/story/2024-03-23/ceo-confidence-improved-in-q1-2024-for-the-first-time-in-two-years ↩

  20. Peck, Emily. "CEO confidence rises to its highest level in two years". Axios. https://www.axios.com/2024/02/08/ceo-confidence-rises-highest-level-in-two-years ↩

  21. Ahasan, Nazmul. "CEOs Turn Positive on US Economy for First Time in Two Years". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2024-06-20. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-08/ceos-turn-positive-on-us-economy-for-first-time-in-two-years ↩

  22. "Exploring the World of CEOs with Marlene Colucci - Be EPIC Podcast". be-epic-podcast.captivate.fm. Retrieved 2022-07-01. https://be-epic-podcast.captivate.fm/episode/exploring-the-world-of-ceos-with-marlene-colucci ↩

  23. "Colucci to lead Business Council". POLITICO. Retrieved 2017-08-12. http://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/former-bush-aide-marlene-colucci-business-council-092012 ↩

  24. "Colucci to lead Business Council". Politico. https://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/former-bush-aide-marlene-colucci-business-council-092012 ↩

  25. Tau, Byron. "Colucci to lead Business Council". POLITICO. Retrieved 2022-07-13. https://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/former-bush-aide-marlene-colucci-business-council-092012 ↩

  26. The Business Council, Official website, Background Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine http://www.thebusinesscouncil.org/about/background.aspx ↩

  27. Dow Chairman and CEO Andrew Liveris Elected Chairman, The Business Council Archived 2012-10-22 at the Wayback Machine, dow.com, October 19, 2012 http://www.dow.com/news/all-news/article/?id=/company-news/dow-chairman-and-ceo-andrew-liveris-elected-chairman%C2%A0-business-council#.UIWXQIba-So ↩

  28. Press Release: The Dow Chemical Company, Dow Chairman and CEO Andrew Liveris Elected Chairman, The Business Council, Yahoo!, October 19, 2012 https://finance.yahoo.com/news/dow-chairman-ceo-andrew-liveris-174000939.html ↩

  29. Barack Obama, Remarks by the President to The Business Council, The White House: Office of the Press Secretary, February 13, 2009 /wiki/Barack_Obama ↩

  30. The Business Council, Official website, Background Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine http://www.thebusinesscouncil.org/about/background.aspx ↩

  31. Barack Obama, Remarks by the President to The Business Council, The White House: Office of the Press Secretary, February 13, 2009 /wiki/Barack_Obama ↩

  32. Cain, Carol. "Gilbert's growing profile puts him in exclusive business company". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2022-07-07. https://www.freep.com/story/money/business/columnists/carol-cain/2018/10/13/gilberts-growing-profile-puts-him-exclusive-company/1590070002/ ↩

  33. Cain, Carol. "Gilbert's growing profile puts him in exclusive business company". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2022-07-07. https://www.freep.com/story/money/business/columnists/carol-cain/2018/10/13/gilberts-growing-profile-puts-him-exclusive-company/1590070002/ ↩

  34. "Remarks to the Business Council | The American Presidency Project". www.presidency.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2024-06-20. https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/remarks-the-business-council-3 ↩

  35. Gilyard, Burl (2024-10-24). "Target CEO Brian Cornell will lead influential Business Council". www.startribune.com. Retrieved 2025-03-10. https://www.startribune.com/business-council-brian-cornell-chair-executive-committee-national/601168345 ↩

  36. Wilson, Rylee (2023-02-08). "Elevance Health CEO 1st woman elected chair of the Business Council". www.beckerspayer.com. Retrieved 2024-06-24. https://www.beckerspayer.com/executive-moves/elevance-health-ceo-1st-woman-elected-chair-of-the-business-council.html ↩

  37. "KKR & Co. LP: Henry Kravis Elected Chairman of The Business Council – The Wall Street Transcript". The Wall Street Transcript. Retrieved 2017-08-12. https://www.twst.com/update/kkr-co-lp-henry-kravis-elected-chairman-of-the-business-council/ ↩

  38. Gilyard, Burl (2024-10-24). "Target CEO Brian Cornell will lead influential Business Council". www.startribune.com. Retrieved 2025-03-11. https://www.startribune.com/business-council-brian-cornell-chair-executive-committee-national/601168345 ↩

  39. Admin. "About Us". The Business Council. Retrieved 2022-07-13. https://businesscouncil.com/about-us/ ↩