Devon O’Reilly has been named president and CEO of Fair Lane: Home of Clara and Henry Ford in Dearborn, effective on June 1.
He succeeds Bob Bury, a longtime nonprofit executive who led Fair Lane for nearly seven years following a long career as president and CEO of the Detroit Historical Society.
O’Reilly joins Fair Lane after more than 10 years at the Detroit Regional Chamber, most recently as senior director of community engagement and leadership development.
At the chamber, O’Reilly led the growth of several key initiatives focused on leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation, including the Leadership Detroit program and the Detroit Policy Conference.
“I have cherished memories of exploring the beautiful grounds as a young child with my parents, and later, being intrigued by the many achievements of Clara and Henry Ford and the significance of their lives at Fair Lane,” says O’Reilly.
“As a near lifelong resident of Dearborn, and graduate of the Henry Ford Academy and the University of Michigan–Dearborn, the opportunity to be part of Fair Lane’s future at this pivotal time is incredibly exciting.”
O’Reilly will oversee nearly 30 staff members responsible for numerous restoration and construction projects as well as key administrative, development, marketing, and visitor experience initiatives.
Bury will remain at Fair Lane in an advisory role during the transition.
“The transformation that has occurred at my great-grandparent’s home over the past several years has been nothing short of extraordinary,” says Edsel B. Ford II, Fair Lane’s board chair.
“Thanks to Bob’s leadership, and the talent and dedication of his incredible team, we are quickly approaching the day when the residence, powerhouse, and magnificent grounds will be ready for the public to experience and enjoy. The Board of Trustees and I are confident the momentum will continue and the vision will be fully realized under Devon’s leadership.”
Fair Lane, reorganized as an independent nonprofit organization in 2013, is a National Historic Landmark. Its mission is to illuminate the lives and legacy of Clara and Henry Ford for visitors through the imagination of their estate.
Today, work continues to complete the restoration of the main residence, powerhouse, and grounds in anticipation of re-opening the estate to the public in 2027.
Clara and Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motor Co. in 1903, built Fair Lane in 1915 after spending several years living in Detroit’s Boston-Edison district.
The 56-room main residence at Fair Lane, located on the campus of U-M Dearborn, is complemented by a powerhouse, a potting shed, a boathouse, a large garage, and 1,300 acres of woodlands, including a tributary of the Rouge River.
For more information, visit henryfordfairlane.org/.
