Eric Smith to Serve as Chair of the Board of Directors for Navy Pier

Eric Smith to Serve as Chair of the Board of Directors for Navy Pier

Five Chicagoland civic leaders join the dedicated group as Directors

CHICAGO (May 28, 2026) – Today, Navy Pier is proud to announce Eric Smith as Chair of the Board and the election of five new Directors: Nora Daley, Jake Henry, Brandon Neal, Melissa Y. Washinton and Amy Yuhn.

“Navy Pier’s Board of Directors plays a critical role in guiding the organization’s long-term vision, strengthening community impact, and ensuring the Pier continues to evolve to meet the needs of Chicago,” said Marilynn Gardner, President and CEO of Navy Pier. “Eric’s civic and business leadership experience make him well-positioned to lead the Board as Chair. His insight, collaborative leadership style, and longstanding commitment to the Pier will be instrumental as we advance our strategic plan and shape the next chapter of the People’s Pier.”

Eric Smith, Vice Chairman of BMO Bank, has a longstanding record of civic and philanthropic leadership across Chicago. He currently serves as Co-Chair of the Civic Committee’s Public Safety Task Force and has held leadership roles with the Chicago Urban League, Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital Foundation, and The Fund for Chicago Public Education. Throughout his tenure on the Navy Pier Board, Smith has been instrumental in the success of the organization’s signature ExPIERience Gala and a strong advocate for Navy Pier’s growing small business development initiatives.

“It’s an honor to step into this role at such an iconic Chicago institution. Navy Pier is truly a place where communities come together to experience culture, connection, and discovery,” said Eric Smith, Chair of the Board of Directors. “I look forward to working alongside my fellow board members and leadership team to build on that legacy and ensure the Pier remains accessible, vibrant, and inspiring for generations to come.”

Nora Daley is the Co-Chair of the Chicago Architecture Biennial and Chair of the Illinois Arts Council Agency. She is a civic and cultural leader recognized for advancing inclusive, publicly accessible cultural programming and for bridging government, philanthropy, and the creative sector. As Co-Chair of the Chicago Architecture Biennial and Chair of the Illinois Arts Council Agency she provides governance and strategic oversight for major cultural institutions and statewide arts funding initiatives. Daley previously served on the Navy Pier Board and was Co-Chair of the 2025 Navy Pier Chicago ExPIERience Gala. Her experience includes board service with the Terra Foundation for American Art, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and After School Matters.

Jake Henry is a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company where he advises on strategy and large-scale transformation. He currently co-leads McKinsey’s global and Americas Mergers & Acquisitions Practice. Previously, Henry co-led McKinsey’s global Life Sciences Practice, advising complex organizations on growth strategy, governance, and performance improvement. His work includes long-term strategic planning, operating model design, and leadership effectiveness across public- and private-sector institutions. His passion for giving back to his community is evident, having previously served on the board of Choose Chicago and currently serving on the boards of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago and the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University.

Brandon Neal is the Chief Legal Officer of Walgreens, where he leads the company’s legal, compliance, government relations, and public policy functions. In this role, he oversees legal strategy for one of the world’s largest retail pharmacy and health services companies, supporting complex operations across pharmacy, healthcare, retail, supply chain, and regulatory environments. Neal brings extensive experience advising publicly traded companies on governance, risk management, regulatory compliance, and strategic transactions. As Chief Legal Officer, he partners closely with executive leadership and the Board of Directors to guide enterprise strategy and manage legal, compliance, and regulatory risk.

Melissa Y. Washington is the Senior Vice President, Government, Regulatory, and External Affairs at ComEd, where she leads the company’s public policy, regulatory strategy, and external engagement across northern Illinois. Washington brings more than two decades of experience from ComEd and its parent company, Exelon. Over the course of her career, Washington has held senior leadership roles spanning customer operations, regulatory policy, investor relations, corporate affairs, workforce development, and economic development.

Amy Yuhn is the Executive Vice President and Chief Brand, Engagement & Impact Officer at Wintrust Financial Corporation, where she leads enterprise brand strategy, community engagement, marketing, and corporate communications initiatives. Yuhn’s responsibilities include overseeing sponsorships, philanthropy, and partnerships that strengthen Wintrust’s presence and civic impact across Chicago. Prior to joining Wintrust, she held senior leadership roles at CIBC, where she led brand, marketing, and community engagement efforts in the U.S. following the bank’s expansion into Chicago.

More information on Navy Pier’s leadership and Board of Directors can be found here.

Headshots for all leaders listed above can be found here.