Jeff Olingy, the executive vice president and Chief Operating Officer for the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, will be leaving the Chamber Aug. 1.
Mr. Olingy said he had originally agreed to stay on only through the end of last year.
He said, "There were so many important projects going on that needed to be finished that I agreed to stay on longer."
Mr. Olingy said he will be seeking other challenges, but has not yet decided on what his next venture will be.
He came to Chattanooga from Boston in April 1996 as an official of Provident insurance company.
Mr. Olingy joined the Chamber in June of 2000.
Tom Edd Wilson, Chamber president and Chief Executive Officer, praised Mr. Olingy, calling him "a huge asset to this company."
He said he earlier had "talked him into staying longer at the Chamber. He has been here through some restructuring and knows the organization very well."
Mr. Wilson said when Mr. Olingy leaves that he will absorb some of his duties and that others will be allocated to other management personnel.