Former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf has been named president and CEO of the Bay Area Council.
Jessica Christian/S.F. ChronicleFormer Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf will become president and CEO of the Bay Area Council starting May 4.Schaaf was chosen after a national search and will succeed interim leader John Grubb, who will move to a new executive role.Tony Mestres, CEO of the Sobrato Organization, will take over as chair of the Bay Area Council’s board.
Former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf is set to serve as the Bay Area Council’s next president and CEO, the regional business advocacy organization announced Monday.
Schaaf, who served as Oakland’s mayor from 2015 to 2023, will assume the role May 4, the Bay Area Council said. Its executive committee selected Schaaf after an “extensive and competitive” national search, the organization said.
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“Libby Schaaf is an exceptional leader with a deep understanding of the Bay Area’s opportunities and challenges,” said Kristina Lawson, chair of the Board of Directors and managing partner of Hanson Bridgett, in a statement. “Her proven ability to bring people together, drive meaningful progress, and champion innovative solutions makes her uniquely suited to lead the Bay Area Council at this pivotal moment.”
Schaaf, who was an early candidate in the 2026 state treasurer’s race but dropped out and endorsed Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis when she announced her bid for the office, said she was “excited to partner across sectors to deliver real results that keep the Bay Area vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive.”
“The Bay Area has always been where the future gets built — and where tough challenges get solved,” she said in a statement. “I’m honored to join the Bay Area Council and work alongside its exceptional membership of business and civic leaders to tackle the region’s greatest needs — from restoring housing affordability and strengthening our economy to improving public safety and expanding opportunity.”
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Since being termed out as Oakland mayor, Schaaf has taken on fellowships and teaching roles at UC Berkeley, Stanford University and Harvard University, with a focus on public-private partnerships and effective governance, according to the Bay Area Council. She also has worked as an adviser for the Abundance Network, a nonprofit that promotes policies to accelerate housing, transportation and infrastructure. She serves as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s appointee to the region’s Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority.
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Business and elected leaders, including Kaiser Permanente CEO Greg Adams and Rep. Sam Liccardo, welcomed Schaaf’s appointment.
“During her tenure as Mayor of Oakland, Libby Schaaf demonstrated a deep commitment to public service, economic vitality, and the well-being of Bay Area communities,” Adams said in a statement. “She is a thoughtful, collaborative leader who understands both the opportunities and responsibilities that come with leading a dynamic region like the Bay Area, and she would bring that same level of purpose and effectiveness to the Bay Area Council.”
Liccardo added: “As a Silicon Valley Congressman, I look forward to partnering with her on the Bay Area’s regional priorities in Washington, D.C. to ensure that it continues as the world’s epicenter of innovation for good.”
Libby will replace John Grubb, who served as the Bay Area Council’s interim president and CEO.
Lawson expressed gratitude for Grubb’s “commitment and service to the organization.” Grubb, the agency’s former chief operating officer, will transition to chief strategy and growth officer.
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“John Grubb provided steady, thoughtful leadership during this important period, ensuring continuity while continuing to advance the Council’s ambitious policy agenda,” Lawson said.
The Bay Area Council also announced that Tony Mestres, CEO of the Sobrato Organization, will replace Lawson as the new board chair.