Paul Krutko

Biography

Paul Krutko
President/CEO

Paul Krutko has been Ann Arbor SPARK’s president and CEO since 2011. Ann Arbor SPARK is a public-private partnership of business, government and academic institutions working to create economic prosperity in the Ann Arbor region. SPARK is responsible for economic development in Washtenaw and Livingston Counties as a SmartZone delivers initiatives to support entrepreneurs and early-stage companies accelerating their growth to full potential in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. SPARK curates and implements a strategic framework designed to maintain and to enhance the region's global competitiveness.

Paul has over four decades of economic and community development expertise. He led San Jose, California's economic development efforts as chief development officer. He had similar roles in Cleveland and Jacksonville Florida. Paul founded Peloton Development, a consultancy devoted to advising businesses and municipal, regional, state and national governments on economic development and climate prosperity strategies and on creating high performing economic development leaders and teams.

In addition to his responsibilities as SPARK CEO, Paul Krutko was honored to serve as chair of the preeminent professional economic development organization in the world, the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). Paul was founding chair of the Economic Development Research Partnership. He was designated an Honorary Life Member of IEDC in 2013. Paul is immediate past Chair of the Board of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) serving in that capacity from 2019-2021. He is also Treasurer of the American Center for Mobility.

He earned a Bachelor of Urban Planning and Design degree from the University of Cincinnati, College of Design, Architecture and Art in 1979.