GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- The chairperson of the search committee tasked with finding the Grand Rapids Symphony's next president and CEO didn't have to look far.
Mary Tuuk, who led the months-long national search, has been appointed to replace current president and CEO Peter Perez, the symphony announced Friday, Nov. 16.
Perez, 78, announced in August his plans to retire by Dec. 31. He will continue in the position through the end of the year, when Tuuk will take over.
Tuuk, a longtime symphony leader and West Michigan business executive, is chief compliance officer and senior vice president with Meijer Inc. She has served on the Grand Rapids Symphony's board of directors since 2012, and co-chaired the search committee that selected Marcelo Lehninger as music director in June 2016.
"Mary's record of proven leadership, community connections and love for music make her the perfect person to lead the Grand Rapids Symphony into our 90th season and beyond," said Chuck Frayer, chair of the Symphony Board of Directors, in a press release. "We were very fortunate to have a high level of interest in this position from around the nation, but ultimately realized that we had the best possible candidate in Mary."
Tuuk's appointment was approved at the symphony board's Thursday, Nov. 15, meeting. She will take over president and CEO responsibilities in 2019, and will step down from her roles with Meijer and the symphony board, as is tradition.
She chaired the search committee to find the symphony's next president and CEO, and was later interviewed and unanimously recommended for the position, according to the symphony. The recommendation was "fully supported" by the Catherine French Group, a Washington D.C.-based symphony recruiting firm contracted to assist in the search.
A Grand Rapids native, Tuuk graduated from Calvin College with degrees in business and music, and earned her juris doctorate and master's of business administration degrees from Indiana University. While at Indiana, she also studied organ with Larry Smith, and voice with Diane Triplett Biser and Stanley Kolk.
Tuuk has more than 20 years experience in executive and legal leadership roles at Meijer and Fifth Third Bancorp.
"By naming Mary as its president, the Grand Rapids Symphony is setting a truly inspired course for its future, and I could not be more pleased with the decision," Lehninger said in a press release. "Mary's unique leadership abilities and insights in both business and music will ensure our current momentum continues for years to come. I look forward to working with her to create the next great chapter in this orchestra's story."
Tuuk has performed with the Grand Rapids Symphony, West Michigan Symphony, Chamber Choir of Grand Rapids, West Michigan Camerata Singers, and the Cincinnati Vocal Arts Ensemble.
"Mary Tuuk is well-known and highly respected by the musicians of the Grand Rapids Symphony," said Paul Austin, Grand Rapids Symphony horn player and one of the three musician representatives on the search committee. "Her business and financial background combined with her musical training uniquely qualify her to lead the organization.
"The musicians couldn't be happier with this decision."
Perez has held the reins of the organization since Dec. 2016, when he took over for former president Peter Kjome.
Perez is a long-time volunteer and symphony supporter who served as board of directors chair from 2013 to 2015. During that time, he co-chaired the Legacy of Excellence Campaign, which reached a $40-million goal in 2016 in cash gifts, pledges, and estate plans to build a permanent endowment for the orchestra.
"While I have enjoyed the unique opportunity to lead this fine organization, I know that it is time for younger leadership to take the Grand Rapids Symphony on a journey to even greater accomplishments," Perez said.
The Grand Rapids Symphony presents more than 400 performances each year. Students, senior citizens and people with disabilities make up a large portion of the audiences reached through extensive education and community service programs.
The symphony also provides the orchestra for Opera Grand Rapids and the Grand Rapids Ballet.
Earlier this year, the symphony received a four-year, $1.1 million grant from the Wege Foundation to weave diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives into all of the orchestra's activities.