The Downtown Business Association announced Thursday Ian O’Donnell will be its new executive director.
O’Donnell will take over from Jim Taylor who announced his retirement earlier this year.
O’Donnell has worked with the Downtown Edmonton Community League and other downtown-focused boards. He also served as project manager with several architecture and development companies and has done “extensive volunteer work in the downtown,” the association said in a news release.
“Edmonton’s downtown is an exciting place to be right now and the timing for this transition has worked out well,” DBA chair Alyson Hodson said. “The board is excited about the fresh perspective that Ian will bring to the organization.”
O’Donnell is also an Avenue Magazine Top 40 Under 40 alumnus.
“It is a great time to be so directly involved with the next chapter of our downtown renaissance,” the new executive director said. “I look forward to working with our members and key stakeholders to ensure that the momentum we have built continues.”
He will officially assume his new role on Dec. 8.
Watch below: Business leaders and the city invited media to see how the downtown is rapidly changing. Jim Taylor joins us to talk about the transformation.