The Association for Corporate Growth®, (ACG) announced on Wednesday that Gary LaBranche, FASAE, CAE, is resigning as ACG’s president & CEO, effective March 17. In the interim, the ACG Executive Committee has appointed ACG’s CFO, John O’Loughlin, CAE, to serve as acting CEO.

"Gary’s decision to accept a new CEO role is a loss for ACG, but we wish him all the best. ACG is stronger and healthier thanks to Gary’s transformative leadership over the past eight years," says ACG Global Chairman Jason Brown, Partner, Victory Park Capital.

A veteran association executive, LaBranche joined ACG in 2008 and led the association through the Great Recession. Under his leadership, ACG has expanded chapters and membership around the world, created an award-winning magazine, Middle Market Growth, started a European conference, added member benefits and grew services to chapters. ACG also initiated efforts to educate policymakers on private capital investment in the middle market, including the creation of the Congressional Caucus on Middle Market Growth, ACG’s Private Equity Regulatory Task Force, the ACG PAC and GrowthEconomy.org.

"Working with ACG members, leaders and staff has been the greatest privilege of my professional career. I am very proud of what we have accomplished together at ACG. I am confident that ACG will thrive and advance the growth of the middle market for decades to come." says LaBranche who will join the National Investor Relations Institute in Alexandria, Virginia, as President and CEO in late March.