WASHINGTON, DC, Nov. 27, 2018 – The Executive Leadership Council (ELC) today announced the appointment of Kelly Veney Brinkley as the organization’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO). She will be responsible for providing leadership and overall management direction concerning a wide range of organizational activities, including strategic planning, building effective business operations and supporting departmental collaboration initiatives.

Brinkley will serve as COO effective immediately, reporting directly to The ELC’s president and chief executive officer, Skip Spriggs.

“Kelly brings a proven track record of operational leadership and financial acumen paired with her experience as a corporate lawyer and political advisor,” says Spriggs. “She will play a key role in developing and executing our strategic plan going forward. Her knowledge and expertise will be instrumental in helping us achieve operational excellence across the organization. We are excited to have Kelly join our team.”

“I am honored to become COO of this extraordinary organization whose purpose is to create pathways of opportunity for the development of black executives who can then positively impact the communities in which they live and work,” says Brinkley. “I look forward to using my operational experience in helping The ELC to reach its full potential and to ensure its continued growth and exceptional service to its members and our community.”

Prior to The ELC, Brinkley served as COO for United Way of the National Capital, where she led the organization’s operations, including community impact, marketing and communications, and fundraising. Her operations experience also includes her tenure as COO for the Washington, D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education in which she led student transportation, procurement, human resources and general operations. Prior to her operations positions, Brinkley served on the transition team for the Bank of America/Merrill Lynch merger and previously held positions at Fannie Mae and the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. She also practiced corporate law at Saul Ewing, LLP.

Brinkley serves on the boards of the D.C. Chamber of Commerce, D.C. Bar Foundation and Calvary Women’s Services. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Spelman College, a master’s of public administration from the University of Maryland, and a law degree from the American University, Washington College of Law.

About The Executive Leadership Council:

The Executive Leadership Council, an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation founded in 1986, is the pre-eminent membership organization committed to increasing the number of global black executives in C-Suites, on corporate boards and in global enterprises. Comprising more than 700 current and former black CEOs, senior executives and board directors at Fortune 1000 and Global 500 companies, and entrepreneurs at top-tier firms, its members work to build an inclusive business leadership pipeline that empowers global black leaders to make impactful contributions to the marketplace and the global communities they serve. For more information, please visit www.elcinfo.com.