West Alabama Chamber Hires Fayette Lawmaker Kyle South As New President & CEO

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama has announced that State Rep. Kyle South, a Republican from Fayette, has been hired as its new president and chief executive officer.

The measure was approved Thursday during a meeting of the Chamber's Board of Directors and his first day on the job is set for July 1.

“The opportunity to lead a 120-year-old business advocacy organization is a challenge that I feel my business experiences and serving as an elected official have prepared me for,” South said. “The Chamber has a solid reputation for serving businesses by collaborating with national, state, regional, and local government entities. I want to continue to build upon those successes with the team in place at the Chamber and the volunteer network of leaders who recognize what we have here in terms of resources and opportunities.”

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South, 41, told Patch he intends to finish out the 2023 regular legislative session before stepping down from his House seat to take on the new role.

“I am extremely excited that Kyle is going to lead our organization into our new ALL IN plan,” Search Committee Chair Bobby Bragg said. “He is a dynamic convenor and brings positive working relationships within our Chamber and West AlabamaWorks! team, in addition to many key stakeholders and investors in our region and throughout the state. As a State Representative, Kyle has done a fantastic job promoting a pro-business atmosphere; so that will be a natural fit in this new role. I respect that Kyle approached this executive search process with integrity and was committed to our extensive vetting process.”

South holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce & Business Administration, with a focus on marketing, from the University of Alabama, where he graduated in 2004. Immediately following graduation and the passing of his grandfather, South moved back home to Fayette to serve as president and general manager of West Alabama TV Cable Company (WATVC).

In that role, the Chamber says he was responsible for all aspects of operations for the $5 million family-owned cable company, including sales management, business development, marketing, finance, banking, budgets, quality standards, and customer service.

What's more, the Chamber praised South's credentials in saying he has cultivated and maintained professional, long-term client relationships and supported networking to secure new business opportunities. South and his family sold the company in 2019.

From 2008 through 2014, he also served as a board member and chairman of the Alabama Cable Telecommunications Association.

Once his seat becomes vacant, it will eventually be filled with a special election to serve out the remainder of the unexpired term set to end on Nov. 4, 2026.

House District 16 includes parts of Fayette, Lamar, Tuscaloosa and Jefferson counties

South is in the midst of his third term in the Alabama Legislature after first being elected in 2014 when he unseated incumbent Democrat Daniel Boman by grabbing 75% of the vote. He ran unopposed during his last two elections.

After South steps down, it will open up vacancies on the following House committees: Rules; Ways & Means General Fund Budget; Financial Services; and Insurance.

South will take the place of longtime Chamber President & CEO Jim Page, who stepped down from the role in March to take an executive position with a Huntsville-based company.

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