Kyle South Resigning as West Alabama Chamber CEO for Role Within UA System
Kyle South is resigning as president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama at the end of October to take a position with the University of Alabama System, he told the organization's board of directors Thursday.
South, a former state representative who left Montgomery to lead the Chamber, will become assistant vice chancellor for state affairs at the UA System. He described the job as the reason he is leaving a role he said he had not been looking to give up.
"This is not a decision I came to lightly," South wrote. "In fact, if not for what I genuinely believe is a dream opportunity to serve as Assistant Vice Chancellor for State Affairs at The University of Alabama System, I would not be looking to leave the Chamber."
From the Statehouse to the Chamber
South led the Chamber for a little more than three years. He took over on July 1, 2023, succeeding the legendary Jim Page, who left earlier that year for a private-sector job in Huntsville.
South arrived from Montgomery, where he had represented House District 16 as a Republican since 2014, covering parts of Fayette, Jefferson, Lamar and Tuscaloosa counties. He resigned that seat the day before starting at the Chamber. Local attorney Bryan Brinyark won the special election to replace him.
Before entering politics, South was president and general manager of West Alabama TV Cable Company, his family's business in Fayette, which the family sold in 2019. He is a graduate of Fayette County High School and the University of Alabama.
In his letter, South listed the renovation and expansion of the Workforce and Community Development Center, work on legislation in Montgomery, and a year-long study of local education among the Chamber's accomplishments during his tenure.
Saban's Exit and a Shaky Start
South wrote that the early months of his tenure tested the local business community, pointing to a single day in January 2024 when Nick Saban announced his retirement as Alabama's head football coach and the United Auto Workers publicly launched its organizing campaign at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance.
"I remember thinking that I may have picked an interesting time to take this job," South wrote. "But our business community persevered. We continued to work together, stayed focused on what matters, and kept moving forward."
He said that response is what gives him confidence in the Chamber's future.
"The strength of this organization has never rested with one person," he wrote. "It comes from the engagement, support and leadership of the members who make up the Chamber. That is why I am confident the work will not slow down."
South reserved specific praise for the Chamber's staff, calling them "the most professional team I have ever had the privilege to lead."
Not Going Very Far
South framed the move as a change of seat rather than a departure from the region.
"I am not going very far, and I certainly am not going to stop caring about this organization," he wrote. "In my new role, I will have the opportunity to work on behalf of the University of Alabama System and our state, and I hope that will allow me to continue being a strong partner for West Alabama."
The Chamber has not announced how it will fill the position or when it will name an interim leader.
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