PORTLAND — W. Godfrey Wood, chief executive of the Portland Regional Chamber, today said he will retire from his position at the end of the month.

Wood has been the business advocacy group’s top executive since 1997.

PRC Board Chairman James Cohen said the chamber would immediately begin searching for a replacement, and praised Wood for his leadership.

“The Portland Regional Chamber is a better organization and our business community is stronger as a result of Godfrey’s tenure,” Cohen said. “We’re grateful for his service, and, on behalf of the board and our members, we thank him for helping make Greater Portland a better place.”

Wood, a Falmouth resident, said he is stepping down in order to “move on to my next opportunity and new challenges.”

“I believe change is good for any organization, and it will be good for me as well,” he said in a prepared statement. “The time is right for me, and for my family, for me to step down, and I do so with wonderful memories, profound thanks to those many individuals with whom I have been associated, and gratitude to the many remarkable, supportive leaders in this community.”

“Those of us who are fortunate to be chosen to lead an organization like this realize that we are merely stewards of an institutional trust, in this case 158 years old, that we strive to sustain, and hope to leave better when it is time to leave,” Wood continued. “I believe it is better, and it is time.”

The Portland Regional Chamber represents more than 1,300 member businesses, and is the largest business membership organization in Maine.

Wood is married to Karen Wood, publisher of The Forecaster.

William Hall can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 106 or whall@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @hallwilliam4.

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W. Godfrey Wood is stepping down as CEO of the Portland Regional Chamber.

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