Texas Association of Manufacturers Names Wroe Jackson President and CEO

Jackson brings deep public policy expertise to the helm as TAM prepares for the 2027 legislative session

AUSTIN - The Texas Association of Manufacturers (TAM) has named Wroe Jackson, the association's executive vice president and general counsel, as its next president and CEO. Jackson will succeed Tony Bennett, a founding member of TAM who is retiring after leading the organization for 14 years, effective Nov. 1, 2026.

Jackson is a widely respected leader in Texas public policy with broad experience in law, government, and industry. Since joining TAM in 2019, he has led the association's strategic planning initiatives, legislative and regulatory advocacy, membership support and recruitment, and coordination across its executive leadership. As general counsel, he served as chief legal advisor to the association and its members and represents Texas manufacturers before federal agencies and state legislative and regulatory bodies.

"Wroe has been at the center of TAM's work since he joined the association, and the board is confident he is the right leader for TAM's next chapter," said Virginia Schaefer, Texas Instruments' head of U.S. State and Local Government Relations and chairman of the TAM Board of Directors. "He knows our members, he knows the Capitol, and he understands what Texas manufacturers need to compete and grow. We are grateful for Tony's service, and we look forward to continuing our mission under Wroe's leadership."

"I have seen Wroe's judgment, his command of policy, and his commitment to our members firsthand," said Bennett. "Our members and the nearly one million Texans they employ have a proven champion in Wroe."

"For more than 20 years, TAM has been the most effective voice for Texas manufacturers, the job creators and innovators who drive our economy," said Jackson. "I am deeply honored to continue the good work of this organization, alongside our board, as we grow advanced manufacturing across Texas."

Jackson's public service career includes senior leadership roles as chief of staff and general counsel to state Sen. Joan Huffman, general counsel to three Texas secretaries of state, and positions with the U.S. Department of Justice and then-Gov. Rick Perry's office. In January 2026, he was named to the 11th annual class of the Presidential Leadership Scholars program, a partnership among the presidential centers of George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson.

He holds a bachelor's degree in Public Policy Studies from Vanderbilt University and earned his Juris Doctor from St. Mary's University School of Law.

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About the Texas Association of Manufacturers

The Texas Association of Manufacturers (TAM) actively represents the interests and priorities of more than 600 member companies in Austin and in Washington, D.C. Manufacturers in Texas account for 11.44 percent of the total output in the state - more than $331.9 billion - and employ more than 981,100 Texans in jobs that pay an average compensation of over $118,000 annually. On average, each manufacturing job created also provides 5 additional jobs in our communities. For two decades, Texas remains the number one exporting state for manufactured goods in the United States. Follow TAM on Facebook and X.