Four years after becoming the first Black president of Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas, Desiree Rogers said she is moving on to a new and challenging position. This time next month Rogers, 48, will begin her job as president of Social Network, a new busin
This new position builds on the continued expansion of the Allstate Financial business unit, Rogers told the Defender. “The sky’s the limit for Blacks right now at Peoples Gas so my status as the first Black president no longer needs to be highlighted,” Rogers said.
“I would like to see the day when we can say we are not the first Black because there are so many of us.” Allstate Financial offers innovative products to middle-market consumers that simplify the investment process and address growing retirement needs, said Thomas J. Wilson, chairman, president and CEO of The Allstate Corporation.
“The ability to recruit exceptional leaders, like DesirΘe, demonstrates the strength of Allstate’s reputation, strategy and team,” Wilson said, in a release. “While sound strategies and great processes are important, it is talented people who will achieve our vision of reinventing protection and retirement for the consumer.”
Willard Evans Jr., who is Black, will succeed Rogers at Peoples Gas. Currently he serves as the vice president of Gas Engineering for Integrys Gas Group, parent of Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas. During her 11 years at Peoples Gas Rogers held several positions before becoming president including vice president of corporate communications.
As a professional, she does not see herself as an underdog nor does she see her new role at Allstate as a step down from being president. “I will still hold the title of president but for a smaller unit, that’s all. The importance of this job or any job is not in the title but the quality of work you produce,” she added.
A Republican supporter turned Democrat, Rogers is a volunteer for presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama. Rogers, a Harvard MBA graduate, once served as the Illinois Lottery Director under former Gov. Jim Edgar. Rogers serves on two corporate boards: Equity Residential, a $15 billion residential equity investment trust, commonly called a REIT, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois.
She also sits on the boards of the Northwestern Memorial Foundation, Museum of Science and Industry and The Polk Foundation. When she is not working, Rogers enjoys spending time with her 18-year-old daughter who will attend Yale University this fall. She also enjoys riding her bike and traveling with friends, including her best friend Linda Johnson Rice, president and CEO of Johnson Publishing Co.
Wendell Hutson can be reached at whutson@chicagodefender.com.
Chicago Defender contributing writer Marissa Lee helped with this article.
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