Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance president and CEO Bob Swindell announces retirement in 2027

Fort Lauderdale, Florida – Bob Swindell will retire as president and CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance in 2027, bringing a leadership transition to an organization he has served for more than two decades. The Alliance plans to conduct a nationwide search for his successor.

Swindell announced his retirement plans on October 13. A lifelong Broward County resident, he joined the Alliance in 2003 as senior vice president of business development and became president and CEO in 2009.

During his time leading the organization, the Alliance assisted companies in creating and retaining more than 62,000 jobs and generating over $3.5 billion in capital investments in Broward County. Its work included supporting business expansions and relocations, strengthening connections across the county’s 31 municipalities, and pursuing jobs offering higher skills and wages.

“Greater Fort Lauderdale’s success has always been a team effort and everything we’ve accomplished has been based on partnership,” Swindell said. “I’ve had the privilege of working with people who believe deeply in this community and are willing to do the hard work of building its future. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together, and I’m excited about what comes next for Broward County and the Alliance.”

The Alliance and its partners helped attract, retain, and support companies including Amazon, American Express, AutoNation, Chewy, JetBlue, Kaplan, and Royal Caribbean. Those efforts brought Swindell into collaboration with business executives, local governments, universities, and community organizations throughout the region.

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“Bob has been an extraordinary champion for Greater Fort Lauderdale,” said Brian Huseman, Alliance Chair and Vice President, Public Policy and Community Engagement for Amazon. “His leadership has made a lasting and strong impact for Broward County businesses and residents, and we are grateful for his more than two decades of service to the Alliance.”

The search for the next president and CEO will include Swindell’s participation, allowing him to contribute to the process of selecting the organization’s next leader.

“We will begin a nationwide search to find the best possible candidate to become the new President and CEO. I look forward to working with Bob and the other members of the search committee on this process,” added Huseman.

Broward County Mayor Mark Bogen also recognized Swindell’s work, emphasizing the relationships behind the Alliance’s economic development efforts.

“Bob has built relationships that have turned ambitious ideas into real opportunities for our residents and businesses. We are grateful for his leadership and for the strong foundation he has created for the future of the Alliance. I wish Bob the very best in the next chapter of his life.”

Swindell said the organization’s current condition makes this an appropriate time to prepare for a change in leadership.

“When making a significant leadership transition, it is best to do it from a position of strength,” added Swindell. “Today, the Alliance benefits from a robust project pipeline of new and expanding companies that rivals previous years, it maintains its strongest financial position in its history, and our market is one of the top business destinations in the world. The combined strength of our collaborative partnerships across our county, many cities, universities and targeted industries make this the opportune time to recruit the most qualified chief executive to lead the Alliance into the future.”

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Before moving into his Alliance role, Swindell spent 18 years as president of Champion Manufacturing, an industrial supply business based in Pompano Beach and Fort Lauderdale. His career has also included extensive service with nonprofit, education, workforce, and industry organizations.

His community roles include serving as vice chair of United Way of Broward County and on the boards of the Alan B. Levan | Nova Southeastern University Broward Center of Innovation, Winterfest, NSU Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship, CareerSource Broward, and the City of Fort Lauderdale Marine Advisory Board.

He previously chaired the Florida Economic Development Council and served on the Enterprise Florida board. In 1992, he chaired the local American Red Cross board during Hurricane Andrew. He later graduated from Leadership Florida Class XXXI in 2013, and his public service has included appointments under Governors Bob Martinez, Lawton Chiles, Jeb Bush, and Rick Scott.

Swindell also helped establish the South Florida Marine Research Hub, connecting university researchers, businesses, and innovators around opportunities in the ocean economy. The Marine Industries Association of South Florida recognized that work with its Golden Anchor lifetime achievement award in 2023.

His other honors include induction into the Broward Schools Alumni Hall of Fame in 2018 and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame. He has received the Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce’s Outstanding Community Service Award and the Greater Pompano Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Visionary Leadership Award.

The South Florida Business Journal named him an Ultimate CEO, and Florida Trend has included him in its Florida 500 every year since the designation began in 2018. Governor Rick Scott presented him with the Governor’s Business Ambassador Award in 2013. In 2016, the Florida Economic Development Council recognized him as Florida’s economic development professional of the year.

Details about his planned retirement and career are available in the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance’s announcement.