Beverly Hills : Chamber Vice President Quits

Mike Simms, Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce executive vice president and general manager, will resign at the end of this month to pursue opportunities in private business.

“It’s difficult to leave Beverly Hills,” Sims said. “It’s been a lot of fun, and we’ve been able to do a lot of things. But now it’s time for me to develop new personal challenges.”

Sims, 42, has been the top staff member at the chamber since September, 1984. He is credited with re-establishing good rapport with the City Council and with the success of such projects as the Beverly Hills Holiday Pageant, the Subaru Cycling Invitational and the recent start of the 14-month Beverly Hills Diamond Jubilee celebration.

“His preserverence and commitment to the community will be missed,” chamber President Karl Schurz said of Sims in a written statement.

Sims served as an assistant manager of the Beverly Hills chamber from 1973 to 1975. Before rejoining the chamber in 1984, Sims served as manager of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce from 1975 to 1980 and then headed his own marketing firm.