Rebecca Lovell Named Interim President & CEO of Greater Seattle Partners
Seattle, Wash. (December 4, 2025) – Greater Seattle Partners (GSP) today announced the appointment of Rebecca Lovell as Interim President and CEO, effective immediately. In this role, Lovell will oversee regional economic development, global business attraction, stakeholder engagement, economic research, and regional marketing to advance Greater Seattle’s economic competitiveness and global brand. She succeeds Brian Surratt, who led the organization since 2022 during a pivotal time in GSP’s evolution and has now been tapped to serve as the Deputy Mayor of the City of Seattle.
Lovell has served as GSP’s Chief Operating Officer since March 2023, where she has built a culture of collaboration across economic development community, elected leaders, and private-sector partners. Her leadership also reshaped how the region tells its unique economic story, driving a website redesign, elevating the research function, positioning Greater Seattle as a center of innovation and GSP as a thought leader on our region’s economy. She launched the annual Uncommon Thinkers Awards with GeekWire and led the Innovate State project with regional technology and civic partners to spotlight Greater Seattle’s interconnected entrepreneurial ecosystem. Across these efforts, Lovell’s strategic and human-centered leadership has strengthened organizational effectiveness and broadened Greater Seattle’s global presence, welcoming delegations and leading select international engagements.
“We deeply appreciate Brian’s service, commitment and transformational leadership and are excited to see him in this strategic role with the City of Seattle,” said Shane Jones, GSP Board Chair and Senior Vice President of Fleet, Revenue Products and Real Estate at Alaska Airlines. “Rebecca has been a key leader in our organization’s success, and we are delighted to see her at the helm of GSP. She energizes the community, the GSP team and our investors. Rebecca’s vision coupled with her strategic approach strengthens GSP and advances our region’s economic development efforts to build a more resilient and inclusive economy.”
Lovell adds: “It is an honor to steward GSP through this next chapter of growth, alongside our incredible team and committed board. I am so grateful to Brian for his vision for GSP and for our partnership over the years. In this moment, telling our region’s story and engaging the world feels both important and urgent. I’m excited to build on our foundation and to bring meaningful jobs and investment to Greater Seattle, guided by our commitment to people and planet.”
Prior to joining GSP, Lovell served as the CEO of Denali Founder Consulting, Executive Director of Madrona Venture Group’s Create33, and the City of Seattle’s Interim Director of Economic Development. Previously, she served as Seattle’s first Startup Advocate, GeekWire’s first Chief Business Officer, Executive Director of the Northwest Entrepreneur Network, and Program Director of the Alliance of Angels, while teaching in the University of Washington’s MBA programs.
Lovell earned her MBA from the UW Foster School of Business and has served on its Employer Advisory Board since 2008. She sits on the boards of Cascade Public Media and the Center for American Entrepreneurship and is the Washington State Ambassador for the nonpartisan Right to Start initiative. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Carleton College, Lovell has been recognized by Puget Sound Business Journal as one of the top 100 women in tech and as its “Do Gooder of the Year.”
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Greater Seattle Partners is the region’s public-private economic development organization uniting business, government, and community leaders to promote Greater Seattle on the global stage. We elevate the region’s story, attract international investment, and build regional economic collaboration to advance inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
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