Greater Seattle Partners Elevates Josh Davis to Chief Economic Development Officer and Senior Vice President

Seattle, Wash. (January 9, 2024) – Greater Seattle Partners (GSP) today announced the promotion of Josh Davis to chief economic development officer and senior vice president. Davis will report to GSP’s president and CEO, Brian Surratt, and oversee the organization’s global engagement, business attraction, international trade, and economic development efforts to grow jobs and investment in Snohomish, King and Pierce County.

In his previous role as vice president of global trade and investment for almost three years, Davis consistently demonstrated exemplary leadership, strategic vision, and an unwavering commitment to advancing economic opportunities in Greater Seattle. His depth of experience, coupled with a proven track record of recent successful initiatives including attracting new companies to the region, spearheading the launch of the Greater Seattle Export Accelerator (GSEA), orchestrating the development of the inaugural Seattle SelectUSA Spinoff, steering international leadership missions to Japan, Iceland, and Norway, and hosting over 100 inbound delegations from more than 80 countries and territories, has made him an essential asset to the organization.

“Josh has been a driving force behind our organization’s success, and we are thrilled to see him take on this new leadership role as chief economic development officer and senior vice president,” said Brian Surratt, president and CEO of Greater Seattle Partners. “He brings an uncommon blend of expertise in economic development, public-private partnerships, and international and local community engagement. Josh’s collaborative approach and ability to navigate complex challenges have been instrumental in the success of numerous initiatives here in Greater Seattle and across the globe.”

“I am honored to accept this new role and excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for Greater Seattle as we project the region globally and welcome uncommon thinkers from around the world,” said Josh Davis. “Our region is on the rise in the global conversation, and I look forward to working with my colleagues at GSP and public and private partners across the region to build upon our successes, attract quality jobs and investment, and uphold our values for a vibrant economy that benefits everyone. I’ve lived and worked around the world and can wholeheartedly say that the Seattle region is the most naturally beautiful, talented, educated, and opportunity-laden place on the planet for those who seek it.”

Davis has built his economic development career cultivating cultural and business ties around the globe with outbound experience in more than 40 countries. He has engaged hundreds of inbound delegations in order to catalyze jobs and investment. Prior to joining GSP, Josh directed aerospace and aviation, international investment and trade, and other economic development activities for the Greater Houston Partnership where he also collaborated with the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of State, Governor’s Office, Mayor’s Office, counties, cities, consulates, trade groups, foreign governments, regional chambers, site consultants, domestic and international companies, and economic developers spanning the region.

Josh is a certified economic developer (CEcD) with an education earned in three continents (Asia, North America, and Europe), including an MBA earned in Seattle’s sister city of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Josh serves on the U.S. Department of Commerce Investment Advisory Council as appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, the International Economic Development Council’s International Advisory Committee, the Washington District Export Council (DEC) as the Private Sector Liaison Officer for the World Bank in the Pacific Northwest, and on the Seattle International Affairs Advisory Board (SIAAB).

ABOUT GREATER SEATTLE PARTNERS

Greater Seattle Partners (GSP) is a public-private partnership that leads regional economic development through global business attraction, site selection and investment and trade opportunities in the Greater Seattle region. GSP collaborates with community and economic development partners to ensure that every person in the Puget Sound region has the opportunity to prosper. We strive to attract and retain quality family/living wage jobs across all communities of the region. Throughout the world we tell the story of our talent, pioneering spirit, unique communities, and quality of life. For more information visit Greater-Seattle.com.

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