Brian Kenner is leaving DMPED to join Amazon: report

Amazon has snagged a prominent D.C. economic development leader.

Brian Kenner, D.C. deputy mayor for planning and economic development, will leave the mayor’s office in July to join Amazon to work on regional economic development issues in the D.C.-area and around the U.S., the Washington Business Journal first reported.

He will return to the private sector for the first time in a decade. https://t.co/7CBT7b3rx6

— Washington Business Journal (@WBJonline) June 13, 2019

Kenner has worked for the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) for a little over four years, where he has worked on multiple initiatives. Specifically for tech, he worked on D.C.’s bid to land Amazon’s second headquarters during the ecommerce giant’s search and formulating D.C.’s annual inclusive innovation report with Mayor Muriel Bowser.

WBJ reported that this move will be Kenner’s first time returning to work in the private sector since he left his position with Fannie Mae a decade ago. Kenner told WBJ that he had his first interaction with Amazon during its second headquarters search, then the ecommerce giant approach him a month ago with a job offer he couldn’t pass up. Come July, Kenner will work out of Amazon’s policy shop in the District.

He told WBJ that issues he’ll be working on will be “very familiar,” adding, “I’ll just be doing those on behalf of Amazon in the region.”

Mayor Muriel Bowser will select an interim deputy mayor for planning and economic development prior to Kenner’s departure. There’s no news of who this could be as of now but DMPED will be in search of a permanent replacement soon.

The Twitter community offered congratulations about this development. Here’s a few tweets from local residents:

Congratulations to DM Brian Kenner on his move to @Amazon ! #BigBoss #ObviouslyDC https://t.co/S5gRFUlSHN via @WBJonline

— Miguel Garcia (@MiguelAlonsoGRG) June 13, 2019

An awesome human and champion. Congrats DM @kenner_brian https://t.co/wrswP04CNx

— Damelia (@Dmilss) June 13, 2019

@kenner_brian exemplifies what it means to be collaborative and competitive as a regional leader in economic development. News from @MayorBowser is that Brian will take his talents to rep @amazon on regional matters. We have been fortunate to have him here. Congratulations!!!

— Jim Dinegar (@DinegarJim) June 13, 2019

Amazon is lucky to have him.

Congrats @kenner_brian!https://t.co/QT4MD8KOtq

— Ryan Croft (@ryankcroft) June 13, 2019