PRESS RELEASES
DHR International Places Downtown Raleigh Alliance President & CEO
RALEIGH, NC, November 13, 2017 – Global executive search firm DHR International is pleased to announce the placement of Kristopher Larson as the President & CEO of the Downtown Raleigh Alliance in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Downtown Raleigh Alliance is the premier public-private partnership driving vitality, growth, and investment in downtown Raleigh.
An award-winning planner by trade and an economist at heart, Larson has spent the last fourteen years helping good cities become great. Career stops as an urban designer and an economic developer enable him to speak with an enlightened enthusiasm about how the confluence of marketplace dynamics, architecture, and the public realm translate into defining, place-making experiences.
“Downtown Raleigh has longed played a foundational role in my heart and in my career,” Larson said. “Its urban fabric is where I discovered, nearly three decades ago, that cities evoke a sense of aspiration, excitement, and freedom. My desire to make downtown Raleigh a more healthy, vibrant, and livable neighborhood sparked my interest in the urban place management industry. To return now to the city and organization that nurtured and launched my career is a truly special opportunity and privilege. I can’t wait to get back to work helping my hometown.”
An insatiable learner, Larson is constantly seeking to expand his knowledge of cities through service as a member of the Board of Directors of the International Downtown Association (IDA), and as a credentialed member of American Planning Association (APA). The IDA has awarded four Pinnacle Awards, their highest honor, to his projects in the fields and Leadership, Planning, Advocacy, and Marketing. Additionally, Larson has been honored as a member of the “40 under 40” in both Long Beach, CA and Grand Rapids, MI and in 2014 was named Grand Rapids’ “Young Professional of the Year”.
“We are very excited about Kristopher returning to Raleigh to lead our organization,” said DRA Board Chair Jon Wilson. “Kristopher’s leadership experience in other growing cities, coupled with his history in the Triangle, made him uniquely qualified for this role. His addition to our downtown Raleigh leadership team positions North Carolina’s downtown for a new chapter of sustainable and healthy economic growth.”
Larson earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from NC State University and is currently a Daniel Rose Fellow through the Rose Center for Public Leadership, a collaboration between the Urban Land Institute and the National League of Cities.
DHR’s search engagement team included Dave Smith, Managing Partner; and, Tina Winner and Steven Oberhoffer, both Partners with DHR’s Economic Development Practice.
About Downtown Raleigh Alliance – Downtown Raleigh Alliance is an award-winning nonprofit organization whose mission is to continue the revitalization of Raleigh’s downtown. The Alliance enhances the quality of life and positively impacts the economic success of downtown through six core services: 1. Safety & Hospitality Ambassadors; 2. Strategic Branding & Community Communications; 3. Events Production; 4. Retail Attraction & Merchant Promotions; 5. Strategic Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement; and 6. Strategic Planning.
About DHR International – DHR is the only major search firm with a dedicated Economic Development team whose forte is identifying top performing community engagement leaders for public-private partnerships that foster economic prosperity.
In collaboration with the IDA (International Downtown Association), DHR International and Somerville Partners recently completed a behavioral leadership study of “High Performing Urban District CEOs: A Behavioral Competency Leadership Study.” This ground-breaking tool provides a highly validated benchmark that is useful in evaluating both seasoned urban executives, as well as, new entrants into field.
For more than 25 years DHR International has been a leading, privately held provider of executive search solutions with more than 50 wholly-owned offices spanning the globe. DHR’s renowned consultants specialize in all industries and functions in order to provide unparalleled senior-level executive search, management assessment and succession planning services tailored to the unique qualities and specifications of our select client base. For more information on DHR International, visit http://www.dhrinternational.com.
Contact:
Lauren Finch
Director, Global Marketing and Public Relations
lfinch@dhrinternational.com
