CBIZ, Inc., a leading national provider of financial, insurance and advisory services, announced yesterday that it has named Jaileah (Leah) Huddleston as the company’s new Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, effective Dec. 11. Huddleston replaces CBIZ’s long-time General Counsel and Secretary Mike Gleespen, who retired in Aug. 2023.
Huddleston joins CBIZ from Brown-Forman Corporation, a publicly traded Fortune 1000 company based in Louisville, KY, where she served as Vice President, Regional, Securities and Governance, and Corporate Secretary.
Huddleston has more than 20 years of business and legal experience, including board advisement and governance, complex M&A, international law, debt and equity financings, public company securities law, ESG, executive compensation, real estate, and compliance. Prior to her current position with Brown-Forman, Huddleston spent over seven years as Assistant Secretary and Corporate Counsel, Securities and Finance at Evergy, Inc., a publicly traded energy company based in Kansas City, Mo.
As Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, Huddleston will be responsible for overseeing all CBIZ legal affairs, managing day-to-day legal operations, supporting the Board of Directors, collaborating with cross-functional teams to advance and achieve business objectives, and protecting the company’s interests. She will also play an integral role in the identification and execution of initiatives across a broad range of corporate governance matters.
“We are thrilled to add someone with Leah’s background, experience and professional accomplishments to our Senior Leadership Team,” said Grisko. “Her broad legal and business acumen will serve CBIZ well as we continue to grow organically and through acquisition going forward. Leah’s experience perfectly aligns with our company’s strategy and future direction, and her expertise will lend a unique and valuable perspective to our team.”
“I am honored to be joining CBIZ at this juncture in the company’s upward trajectory,” said Huddleston. “I look forward to partnering with the leadership and legal teams to drive growth and advance the corporate strategy. I take this role very seriously, and I’m excited to get to work and make an impact.”
Huddleston earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Michigan, her juris doctor from Vanderbilt University School of Law and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Missouri – Kansas City.
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