Libby Schaaf, the former mayor of Oakland, has been appointed president and CEO of the Bay Area Council following a national search, the regional business-backed policy group said Monday.

Schaaf, who served as Oakland mayor from 2015 to 2023, will begin her new role on May 4 and lead the organization's efforts to advance economic growth, housing solutions and regional collaboration across the nine-county Bay Area, the council said in a released statement.

Her selection was unanimously approved by the council's executive committee after what officials described as an extensive recruitment process.

"The Bay Area has always been where the future gets built--and where tough challenges get solved," Schaaf said in a statement. "This is a pivotal moment, and I'm excited to partner across sectors to deliver real solutions that keep the Bay Area vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive."

Schaaf brings decades of public-sector leadership experience and has recently held fellowships and teaching roles at the University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, and Harvard University focused on governance and public-private partnerships, the council said.

Alongside her appointment, Tony Mestres, chief executive of The Sobrato Organization, was named chair of the council's board of directors, succeeding Kristina Lawson.

The Bay Area Council, founded in 1945, represents more than 350 major employers across the region and advocates on issues including housing affordability, transportation, and economic development.

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