Innovation Depot, a Birmingham-based tech and bio-focused startup system, has selected Brooke Gillis as its CEO, the organization announced Wednesday.
Alabama Media Group reported that Gillis will begin her tenure Dec. 12. A resident of Homewood, Gillis succeeds former Innovation Depot CEO Drew Honeycutt, who resigned in August in favor of a new business opportunity.
Since 2020, Gillis has served as program manager for Techstars Alabama at EnergyTech Accelerator. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Alabama.
A local, woman-owned staffing firm called Apt led Innovation Depot’s CEO search process.
According to Bebe Goodrich, Innovation Depot’s interim CEO, Gillis is “a seasoned leader in Birmingham’s startup ecosystem.”
“Brooke brings the right skill set to the table to propel The Depot into a new era of growth and success,” Alabama Media Group quoted Goodrich as stating.
Gillis said Innovation Depot “has been the foundation of entrepreneurship in our region for many years.”
“I am thrilled for the opportunity to help enhance Birmingham’s future while working with such passionate entrepreneurs,” she said. “I want to thank The Depot’s board for trusting me to continue building on the success of our great startup ecosystem.”
Gillis previously served as the director of sales and marketing at Instagift, a national ecommerce software company. In this position, she led the creation and launch of Innovation Depot’s Velocity Accelerator program.
Prior to her time at Instagift, Gillis was the director of sales and marketing at Virginia College/Culinard Cafe, which was one of Innovation Depot’s first member companies.
Dylan Smith is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
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