Today Bill Hammond, TAB CEO, announced his retirement at the end of the year, bringing to a close the 18-plus years he has dedicated to TAB.

“It has been a wonderful career at TAB. Leading an organization that has affected so much positive change for the business community has been a true honor,” said Hammond. “While I will no longer lead TAB, I plan to continue to be a stalwart advocate for business issues and remain a loyal supporter of TAB. While it was difficult to make this decision, I only do so knowing that I leave TAB in good hands. The current TAB team is the best I’ve worked with, and our staff is truly vested in the mission of TAB. I look forward to working closely with the organization during the next legislative session.”

Sara Tays, TAB Chair and CEO of TenPoints Consulting, expressed appreciation to Bill Hammond for all of his work at the Association. “I will be forever grateful to Bill Hammond for his leadership on the most pressing business issues of our state. The work of Bill and TAB is about creating more and better job opportunities for all Texans. We, as Texans, have a great place to work, live and raise our families. Bill Hammond’s legacy in securing that standard will prevail as the strong staff and members of TAB will continue to always put Texans first.”

At the helm of the lead voice for business since April 1998, Hammond has worked aggressively and successfully to ensure a strong pro-business tax and regulatory climate in Texas. His proven track record of leadership in support of Texas business includes the aggressive pursuit of worker’s compensation reform and building broad-based coalitions to successfully advocate for quality Pre-Kindergarten education, greater transparency and accountability in K-12 public education and for much-needed reforms to the state’s higher education system.

Texas Monthly named Hammond one of the top 25 most powerful people in Texas politics in 2011. Campaign & Politics magazine recognized Hammond in 2010 as one of the state’s “Top 10 Most Influential Figures in Politics and Government”.

Prior to leading TAB, Hammond served for three years as chairman of the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), appointed by then-Governor George W. Bush. Hammond also served as the employer representative on the three-member commission.

He served four terms in the Texas House of Representatives during the 1980s, where he successfully authored the Texas Education Agency Sunset Bill, and was named one of the state’s top ten legislators by Texas Monthly and the Dallas Morning News.

A former business owner, Hammond was owner and president of Dallas Tent and Awning Company prior to his public service in state government and leadership of TAB.

Coming into the 85th Legislative Session, Bill Hammond plans to open a lobby and media firm where he will serve as a contract lobbyist and strategist on key business issues such as education, taxes, economic development and health care.

TAB is organizing a search committee headed by TAB Chair Sara Tays. Plans will be announced at a later date. In the meantime, all inquiries should be addressed to Sara Tays, TAB Chair, 1209 Nueces St., Austin, TX 78701.