Arthur C. Brooks (2008–2019) When DeMuth retired as president at the end of 2008, AEI's staff numbered 185, with 70 scholars and several dozen adjuncts, and revenues of $31.3 million. Arthur C. Brooks succeeded him as president at the start of the Late-2000s recession. In a 2009 op-ed in The Wall Street Journal, Brooks positioned AEI to be much more aggressive in responding to the policies of the Barack Obama administration. Under his leadership, AEI identified itself with "compassionate conservativism" and the maximisation of happiness. Politico said that Brooks "helped elevate [AEI] into a bastion of free-market orthodoxy and center-right policy wonkery during the Obama years", before leaving to become a "happiness expert" and self-help guru. In 2018, Brooks announced that he would step down effective July 1, 2019.
arthur c brooks (2008–2019) when demuth retired as president at the end of 2008 aei's staff numbered 185 with 70 scholars and several dozen adjuncts and revenues of $313 million arthur c brooks succeeded him as president at the start of the late-2000s recession in a 2009 op-ed in the wall street journal brooks positioned aei to be much more aggressive in responding to the policies of the barack obama administration under his leadership aei identified itself with "compassionate conservativism" and the maximisation of happiness politico said that brooks "helped elevate [aei] into a bastion of free-market orthodoxy and center-right policy wonkery during the obama years" before leaving to become a "happiness expert" and self-help guru in 2018 brooks announced that he would step down effective july 1 2019