Donna Zarcone, (College of Business Alumni Hall of Fame 09/10) the finance whiz who led Harley-Davidson’s financial arm in the 1990s and early 2000s, has been named president and CEO of the Economic Club of Chicago.

Board members of the public-policy organization elected her this morning.

Ms. Zarcone has served as interim president of the club since October, when President Grace Barry summarily left the position. As a board member of the club, Ms. Zarcone has held numerous positions in the organization.

Some 50 people applied for the job — which is part event planner and part policy strategist — before it was narrowed to six a few weeks ago.

In Ms. Zarcone, the Economic Club gets a financial whiz with personality.

“She’s self-effacing and is good in personal skills. She doesn’t have to have the spotlight. She’s a team-oriented person, and she’s smart as a whip,” said club Chairman John Canning Jr., who in his day job is chairman of Madison Dearborn Partners LLC.

Read more at Chicago Business online.