Welcomes New Advisory Board Members from Amazon, City National Bank, and SRI
Los Angeles – February 21, 2023 – Global LA, the public-private partnership established last year by the Office of the Mayor of Los Angeles and supported by LA’s most dynamic businesses, dedicated civic leaders, and economic development organizations, is excited to announce four new advisory board members joining the organization to help attract international companies to Los Angeles in the run-up to the 2028 Olympics.
Global LA is pleased to share that Ron Frierson, Amazon’s Director of Economic Development for the Western US, is joining their board. Ron leads the team that supports Amazon’s investment projects in California, Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington.
“With multiple businesses operating across the Los Angeles area, including in entertainment, gaming, logistics, and fulfillment, Amazon knows that LA is a great place to invest,” said Ron. “We are enthusiastic about supporting Global LA’s mission to attract international business to the region and preparing for the gathering of global athletes and fans for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
Global LA is excited to welcome Steve Bash, a Senior Vice President at City National Bank, the largest bank headquartered in LA. Steve leads their international banking, trade, and supply chain finance businesses. The group is active in global financial advisory services, negotiating and structuring supply chains, receivables purchase and export finance transactions, offshore risk management, processing services, and global correspondent banking.
Steve notes, “It’s a critical time to dedicate resources to attracting new businesses to Los Angeles, and I’m pleased to join Global LA in its effort to create growth. In the lead-up to the 2028 Games, Los Angeles needs new organizations such as Global LA to secure job growth and advance the narrative about why LA is a great place to do business.”
Highly respected Los Angeles attorney Carol Leslie Hamilton is another fantastic advisory board addition. Hamilton’s experience includes extensive international policy work with the United Nations, UNESCO, the Guantanamo Task Force, and the International Committee of Lawyers for Tibet. Closer to home, she was the VP of Legal and Business Affairs at RKO Pictures, a founding partner in the Bourhis & Hamilton law firm, and co-founded the Legal Clinic for Battered Women. In addition to her role with Global LA, she serves on the UC Law San Francisco, Board of Governors, and the boards of the Alliance for Justice and Renewables 100 Policy Institute.
Carol comments, “I’m thrilled to join Global LA in its effort to bring more international investment to our city. A home to diverse talent from all corners of the world, LA is one of the world’s most ethnically-diverse cities. We have a wide range of talent and endless opportunities for companies to thrive. As we look forward to the 2028 Olympics, Global LA is perfectly positioned to share this story with the world business community.”
Jonathan Davies is a Partner leading the U.S. Media & Entertainment Practice for global executive search firm SRI. With more than 25 years of experience in the media and entertainment industry, Jonathan has held a variety of C-suite global leadership positions with U.S.-based media companies, including CNN, Discovery International, and Eurosport, as they have navigated the strategic, operational, and cultural challenges of a marketplace being transformed by digital technologies. Davies brings the added perspective to the Board of leading the LA growth of a British multinational organization.
Jonathan comments, “Given SRI’s focus on senior executive leadership in the media, sports, and entertainment industries, I’m delighted to be able to support Global LA as it uses the drumbeat of multiple prestigious events over the coming years as a platform to attract increased investment and world-class talent.”
The other current Global LA Advisory Board members include Jaime Lee, President of the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners, former US Ambassador to UNESCO Crystal Nix-Hines, Evite President Jason Woo, SCI-Arc Director Hernan Diaz Alonso, CEO, Director-General, and Dean, Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University Dr. Sanjeev Khagram, Ambassador Michael Lawson, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Urban League, and Partner and Managing Director, Boston Consulting Group Danny Acosta.
Los Angeles’ companies and organizations that have committed to support Global LA as members include The Walt Disney Company, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, the Annenberg Foundation, City National Bank, East West Bank, Evite, WasteFuel, the Los Angeles Football Club, Goldman Sachs, Neuehouse, The Port of Los Angeles, Los Angeles World Airports, and Edison International.
In preparation for hosting the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Global LA aims to collaborate with a broad network of partners to support new businesses that will help secure LA’s Olympic legacy through economic opportunity.