Former AT&T Michigan chief Jim Murray lands job with Arab American and Chaldean Council

posted on: Oct 5, 2018

SOURCE: CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS

BY: KURT NAGL

Jim Murray, the former president of AT&T’s Michigan division, has a new job as executive director of the Arab American and Chaldean Council.

Murray started in the newly created position Monday, with his first full day on Thursday. His role will be to execute the vision and expand the mission of the nonprofit, which operates 12 outreach centers throughout metro Detroit.

Murray, 48, said his priority will be growing the human services agency.

“I want to up ACC’s profile in the community,” Murray said. “They’re well-known among the clients they serve, but I think there’s a lot of work to do to help them grow.”

Murray met the nonprofit’s founding president and CEO Haifa Fakhouri in his work with AT&T Michigan, where he was president from 2005 until December. After leaving, he did contractual work with the nonprofit for leadership development before landing the job as executive director.

He now oversees growth and strategy at the nonprofit, which has around 145 employees, an annual budget of $12 million and, last year, served 76,571 individuals. It delivers training for education and employment and offers behavioral health assistance, self-enrichment services, and immigration help.

Prior to his work with AT&T, Murray served as deputy chief of staff in the Michigan House of Representatives from 1990 to 2005. He completed his undergraduate degree at Central Michigan University.