YOUNGSTOWN — James Dignan’s contract as president and CEO of the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber will not be renewed come January.

Dignan has been in this position for two years, after serving as the chamber’s chief operating officer for six months. Prior to the regional chamber, Dignan served as commander of the 910th Airlift Wing at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Vienna Township, and as the deputy director of Global Force Management and Mobilization at the Pentagon.

His contract expires at the end of December and the executive committee decided to not renew Dignan’s contract, according to attorney Matt Blair, treasurer of the chamber’s board of directors.

“I’m not surprised. I was looking forward to getting it renewed, but unfortunately, the executive committee decided to the take the Chamber in a different direction,” Dignan said. “I wish them all the best, and I know they will keep moving forward.”

The former president and CEO, Tom Humphries, will be working alongside Dignan until the contract is up. Humphries served in this position for 20 years before passing it down to Dignan.

“James is under contract until the end of the year. I was asked by the executive committee to start now to be a transitional CEO, but he is still employed and his contract will be honored,” Humphries said.