Jeff Bethke The longtime DePaul University executive who Mayor Lori Lightfoot backed to be the next CEO of the agency that operates McCormick Place has been tapped as its new board chairman instead. Jeff Bethke, who stepped down in December as DePaul's chief financial officer, was appointed today to lead the board of directors for the Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority. He replaces United Airlines executive Brett Hart, whose term in the board's top spot expired in October. Bethke was a top candidate in late 2019 to replace former MPEA chief executive Lori Healey, drawing support from Lightfoot after working on her transition team following her election earlier that year. That crucial role running the convention center campus is selected jointly by the mayor and governor. The job ultimately went to longtime MPEA Chief Financial Officer Larita Clark in early 2020, one of Gov. J.B. Pritzker's top choices.