LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Global LA, the recently launched public-private partnership established by the Office of the Mayor of Los Angeles and supported by L.A.’s most dynamic businesses, dedicated civic leaders, and economic development organizations, is excited to announce that Earvin “Magic” Johnson is joining the organization as a celebrity ambassador to help attract international businesses to Los Angeles in the run-up to the 2028 Olympics.
The mission of Global LA is to attract international businesses, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and other opportunities to fortify Greater L.A.’s communities, create jobs, and contribute to a resilient economy. Together with our partners and members, Global LA will enable a more equitable, vibrant, generative economy that grows and thrives as a result of an increasingly international and diverse population.
Johnson, one of the city’s most noted entrepreneurs and investors, notes, “I’m looking forward to working with Global LA, the Mayor’s office, and the one-of-a-kind business community here to bring international companies to Los Angeles, and to bring jobs and economic growth to our underserved neighborhoods. This has been the foundation of my company Magic Johnson Enterprises and I look forward to seeing the difference we can make in this incredible city.”
Regarding Global LA’s appointment of Magic, Mayor Eric Garcetti noted, “Los Angeles is a global crossroads — there is simply no better place to start or expand a business than here. By making it easier for companies, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs to invest in our city, Global LA will attract international opportunities that benefit Angelenos across our city with good-paying jobs and a more resilient, inclusive local economy. We couldn’t ask for a better ambassador of the program than Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson, a legend in business and sports, to help with this pre-Olympics initiative.”
Global LA promotes the Los Angeles region for foreign investment in key sectors including sustainability and cleantech, transportation and logistics, entertainment and tech, advanced manufacturing, biotech, and life sciences, and space and aerospace. Global LA is also working towards directing new international investment that will directly benefit underserved communities.
The President and CEO of Global LA is Debbie Adler, a longtime Los Angeles strategy executive known for her work at SoCal’s noted NPR station KCRW and the British Consulate’s Department of International Trade. She has also consulted for local organizations such as Homeboy Industries, Liberty Hill Foundation, Cause Communications, and LA Commons, among others.
Adler notes, “Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson symbolizes so much of what makes L.A. great: he used his platform as a world-famous athlete to create a thriving business empire and continues to give back to the communities that supported him through thoughtful investments. As Global LA’s Ambassador, his support in connecting with international CEOs will help to tell the story of why L.A. is the best city in the world for innovative and ambitious business leaders.”
The partner organizations that have come together to support Global LA include the City of Los Angeles, the LA Tourism & Convention Board, the Los Angeles Urban League, the LA County Economic Development Corporation, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, World Trade Center LA, the Alliance for SoCal Innovation, Pacific Council on Foreign Affairs, LA Cleantech Incubator, GO-Biz, Sister Cities, and the International Visitors Council of LA.
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.
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, Wastefuel Chairman and CEO Trevor Neilson, Ambassador Michael Lawson, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Urban League, and Partner and Managing Director, Boston Consulting Group Danny Acosta.
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.
