Ted Townsend

Memphis Chamber of Commerce President & CEO

Ted Townsend is the President and CEO of the Greater Memphis Chamber, a role he has held since December 2022. A native Memphian, Townsend has dedicated over a decade to advancing economic development in the region. Prior to his current position, he served as the Chamber’s Chief Economic Development Officer from 2020 to 2022, leading the organization to its most successful year in economic development in 2021. Notably, he played a pivotal role in securing Ford and SK Innovation’s $5.6 billion investment in the BlueOval City electric vehicle and battery manufacturing campus, marking the largest private investment in Tennessee's history.

Before joining the Chamber, Townsend co-founded arGentis Pharmaceuticals Inc. and served as its Chief Operating Officer. He also held significant positions at the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, including Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer, where he contributed to Tennessee being recognized as the State of the Year in Economic Development multiple times. At the University of Memphis, he served as the first Chief Economic Development and Government Relations Officer, leading efforts that resulted in over $45 million in state and local investments. Townsend holds a degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Memphis and is a graduate of Leadership Tennessee and the Leadership Memphis Executive Program.