IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LAEDC Elects Raymond Holdsworth as 2007
Chairman
of Region’s
Premier Business Organization
***
Business and civic leader Holdsworth,
vice chairman of AECOM, to build upon
the successes of former Chair Rod Banks
and continue to lead the LAEDC to new heights
LOS ANGELES — The Board of Governors of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation
(LAEDC) today announced Raymond W. Holdsworth, as the new chairman of the
LAEDC, a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to attract, retain and grow
businesses and jobs in the regions of LA County. Holdsworth succeeds Rod Banks who, in addition
to serving as LAEDC chairman, is executive vice president at Bank of America.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to be entrusted with this role
of helping to lead the LAEDC in its mission to promote economic vitality in
the greater Los Angeles region,” said Holdsworth, vice chairman of AECOM,
a leading global provider of engineering design and management services in
the transportation, facilities, and environmental markets. AECOM also employs approximately 28,000 employees
and has annual revenues of $3.4 billion.
“I am confident that with Ray’s leadership
as chairman, LAEDC will be poised to make big strides in further developing
a positive economic climate in the region,” said current chairman Rod Banks.
“He is the perfect fit for this position and will take the baton and
run with it.”
Before being named vice chairman in 2005, Holdsworth served
as AECOM president. During his tenure,
he led growth and diversification activities that significantly broadened
AECOM’s business lines and geographic reach. He spearheaded several acquisitions and helped
shape the operating structure of AECOM to enhance the delivery of client services
and optimize client satisfaction. Prior
to his joining AECOM in 1992, he held senior management positions at DMJM
(which he joined in 1981), leading the company through a period of sustained
expansion and significant project achievement.
“Rod Banks was extremely successful
in engaging the Board and growing the visibility, revenues and impact of the
LAEDC. Under his leadership, we helped
retain more than 40,000 jobs for the County, launched two economic forecast
events and the Southern California Leadership Council and increased public and
private support for the LAEDC by more than one million dollars,” said Bill
Allen, LAEDC president and CEO. “I am
certain that Ray will continue to elevate the organization. He brings a wealth of knowledge and passion
to the LAEDC, and I believe we are poised for tremendous growth in the next
several years. He has already
demonstrated remarkable leadership and vision for the LAEDC over the past year
as the founding co-chair of our Southern California Leadership Council and as
the creator of our new California Transportation and Logistics Institute
founded in partnership with the
About LAEDC:
The LAEDC, the region’s premier business leadership
organization, is a private, non-profit organization established in 1981 under
section 501(C)(3).
Our mission is to attract, retain, and grow business and jobs in
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[Editors: For media interviews please call: George
McQuade at 818-340-5300 or 818-618-9226. For more information about LAEDC,
contact: