PRESS ROOM

ROYAL OAK, Mich., 

Anthony F. (Tony) Earley, Jr. has been named chair of the board of the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS). The election was held June 19 at the DZS annual board meeting. Earley succeeds Lloyd Semple, who will remain on the board after serving as chair for four years.

“Lloyd has been a wonderful board chair and incredible mentor, and we are grateful for his continued service,” said Ron Kagan, DZS executive director and CEO. “We are excited to welcome Tony back to the DZS board and look forward to his leadership in this key role.”

Earley served on the DZS board from 1995 to 2011 before leaving Metro Detroit for California’s Bay Area to serve as chairman, chief executive officer and president of PG&E Corporation. Before joining PG&E, he served in a number of executive leadership roles during 17 years at DTE Energy, including executive chairman, chairman and chief executive officer, and president and chief operating officer.

“Lloyd is a hard act to follow; he has been an outstanding chair throughout his tenure,” said Earley. “I appreciate the confidence placed in me to succeed him and to lead this organization for which I have a great passion.”

“It has been a privilege serving as board chair and I remain committed to the DZS’s mission,” said Semple. “We are fortunate to have an individual of Tony’s caliber assume the chairmanship.”

Earley serves on the boards of Ford Motor Company, Southern Company and CLEAResult. His public service includes membership on the boards of United Way Worldwide and the Exploratorium, a science, arts and human perception museum based in San Francisco.

Earley received the Most-Admired CEO Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 from the San Francisco Business Times and was named 2015 Philanthropic CEO of the Year by the American Red Cross of the Bay Area. His community service was also recognized by readers of The Detroit News in 2003 when he was selected as one of the Michiganians of the Year.

The DZS also elected Kristy Fercho, president of mortgage for Flagstar Bank, to a three-year term at the June 19 annual member meeting.