Huntington Bank Chairman Gary Torgow will help lead Gov.-elect Jocelyn Benson’s transition into office as one of four chairs of her new leadership council, The Detroit News reported Wednesday, Nov. 4.

Former Michigan Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud, a Fordson High School alumna and former Dearborn Board of Education member, will also serve on the council, according to MLive.

Benson announced the 15-person leadership and transition council a day after winning the governor’s race over Republican U.S. Rep. John James, as we reported Nov. 4.

Torgow, a Detroit business leader who chairs Huntington Bank and the Jewish Federations of North America, will co-chair the council alongside Strategic Staffing Solutions CEO Cindy Pasky, former U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, according to The Detroit News. He also founded and serves as executive chairman of Sterling Group, a Detroit-based real estate and investment company.

Hammoud’s role is as a council member, not a chair. She served as Michigan’s first Arab American solicitor general after being appointed in January 2019 by Attorney General Dana Nessel. She took the oath of office at Fordson High School, according to a Henry Ford College announcement at the time. She resigned from both the Dearborn Board of Education and the Henry Ford College Board of Trustees to take the state post.

Hammoud earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan-Dearborn and her law degree from Wayne State University Law School, according to her Miller Johnson attorney profile. She later served as chief deputy attorney general.

The transition council also includes former Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss, Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians Chair Austin Lowes, Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad, Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield and U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, State Affairs reported. Philanthropist Linh Song was also named to the council.

Separately, former state Sen. Jim Ananich, Business Leaders for Michigan CEO Jeff Donofrio and Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan CEO Nicole Sherard-Freeman will co-chair the transition itself, according to MLive.

The transition website lists inauguration celebrations for Jan. 1, 2027, in Lansing.