After a five-month search, the Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce board announced that James O’Callaghan of Lakewood, Calif., will be CEO beginning today, Sept. 4.

O’Callaghan leaves his position as executive director for business improvement districts on the West Hollywood Travel and Tourism Board. He started that job in Jan. 1, 2019, according to a social media post.

He worked as president and CEO for the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce from 2012-16, and then became president and CEP of Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce.

“I am looking forward to moving the Chamber initiatives forward with the renovation and the pro-business environment and building on this vibrant business community,” O’Callaghan said.

One of his immediate tasks will be overseeing the renovations and expansion to the current Chamber building at the corner of Palisades Blvd. and N. Verde River Drive.

O’Callaghan fills the CEO position left by Scott Soldat-Valenzuela, who submitted his resignation in early April to move to Colorado. Soldat-Valenzuela served on an interim basis locally from his job as CEO and president of the Windsor Chamber of Commerce.

Board chair LeeAnn Torkelson said O’Callaghan should be a solid fit for the local organization.

“It was so important to the Chamber CEO search committee that we get this right,” Torkelson said. “We looked locally and nationally to find the very best candidate that fit the vision of the Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce.”

She said the process included application review, personality assessment, phone screening and a panel interview.

“The net result is we found a stellar candidate that will be a pivotal force in the Fountain Hills business community,” she said.

O’Callaghan’s first Chamber breakfast meeting will be Sept. 19.