City of Vancouver’s economic development agency continues to forge path of economic transformation under new VEC CEO Eleena Marley
Experienced business strategist and professional services advisor Eleena Marley will continue to helm the Vancouver Economic Commission (VEC) as Chief Executive officer for the foreseeable future, leading the team and setting the organization’s corporate, strategic and aspirational goals.
“It is an enormous privilege and responsibility to shape the future of Vancouver’s economy, and VEC has been equal to that task for many years,” says Eleena Marley. “The ongoing economic impacts of COVID and the climate emergency – unfolding in lockstep with other crises – clearly illustrate the significance of VEC’s work on economic transformation. I have every confidence in VEC’s track record and commitment to tackling the issues of the future. The team’s expertise will aid Vancouver in our city’s challenging yet rewarding quest for an economically resilient, prosperous and inclusive economy, and one competitively positioned on the world stage.”
Marley’s decades of strategic business and crisis management acumen have been evident since she assumed the role of Acting CEO in February 2020. Despite being thrust into the pandemic, her steady leadership guided VEC as it delivered rapid, reactive support to Vancouver’s business ecosystem and acted in an advisory capacity to Mayor, Council and city staff. Moreover, Marley’s leadership has been instrumental to catalyzing VEC efforts that could shape the city’s economic recovery, including focusing the organization on futureproofing Vancouver’s economy, and supporting the city’s economic transformation.
“VEC continues to deliver solid results under Eleena’s leadership, publishing a new economy report, establishing a new Vancouver economic development advisory committee, and building strong alignment with City of Vancouver priorities,” says Paul Mochrie, chair of the Vancouver Economic Commission’s board of directors. “VEC plays a critical role in championing the development of a strong, equitable and resilient local economy and Eleena is well placed to lead that work in partnership with the business sector and City staff.”
Eleena Marley has more than 20 years of experience as a strategic business advisor, having worked in both the public and private sectors in Canada and across the UK. Marley has provided professional business advisory services including strategic business reviews, large-scale infrastructure investment programs and strategic performance improvement initiatives to various levels of governments and private sector organisations. More recently, Marley has worked in the City of Vancouver’s Business Planning and Project Support team delivering strategic business advisory services to cross-departmental projects and managing prioritised strategic business relationships on behalf of the city.
About the Vancouver Economic Commission
The Vancouver Economic Commission is proud to serve one of the world’s fastest-growing, low-carbon economies. As the economic development agency of the City of Vancouver, VEC strengthens Vancouver’s economic future by building a prosperous, inclusive, zero carbon and resilient local economy, competitively positioned in the global market. It does so by developing programs, supporting local companies, attracting targeted high-impact investment, and conducting and publishing thoughtful leading-edge industry research.
VEC respectfully acknowledges that it is located on the unceded ancestral territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ / sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
