For-Profit Arm Of LDS Church Names New CEO

The corporation that oversees many businesses for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a new chief operating officer.

The Deseret News reports Thursday (http://bit.ly/HhyAig ) that Keith McMullin is being appointed as CEO of the Deseret Management Corporation, a for-profit arm of the Mormon Church.

McMullin previously served as a member of the corporation’s board of directors. He also was the second counselor in the church’s presiding bishopric. It oversees worldwide humanitarian efforts as well as business operations such as the development of the City Creek shopping mall.

McMullin replaces Mark Willes, who was appointed in 2009.

Willes led a restructuring of the Mormon Church’s media properties to focus more heavily on digital publication and he instituted a mission statement that better reflected Mormon values.