Gary Salamido is president and CEO of the North Carolina Chamber, where he leads advocacy, lobbying and political efforts to advance the state’s business climate. With more than 30 years of experience, Salamido helped position North Carolina as a top state for business. He joined the Chamber in 2011 and was named COO and acting president in 2018, then CEO in 2019. Previously, he spent 19 years at GlaxoSmithKline, including 10 as director of state government affairs, overseeing issues such as tax policy, environmental impact, tort reform, workforce development and Medicaid. He also held roles in professional and state government affairs and integrated healthcare markets. Salamido earned a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Albany College and a master’s degree in pharmacy administration from the University of Texas at Austin. He lives in Cary, N.C., with his wife, Lisa, and they have four children, three grandchildren and a dachshund named Hugo.