Brian McGowan, former CEO of Invest Atlanta and current chief operating officer at the Metro Atlanta Chamber, is to join the Atlanta office of the global law firm Dentons, by some counts the largest in the world.
Dentons last year merged with Atlanta-based McKenna, Long & Aldridge LLP, a 430-attorney firm with a strong focus in public policy.
That’s where Mr. McGowan will fit in when he starts in February. His economic development experience at the national, state and local levels made him a strong candidate for his principal position in the firm’s U.S. public policy practice.
Mr. McGowan previously served as deputy assistant U.S. secretary of commerce under the Obama administration and served as California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s deputy secretary for commerce before joining Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed’s administration as head of Invest Atlanta.
In his new role, Mr. McGowan will interface with business and government leaders as the firm advises governments on economic development projects around the world. Dentons, which also just bought firms in Singapore and Australia, has more than 7,300 attorneys worldwide.
“Our public policy professionals have deep insight on the economic development and political landscape throughout the country, and Brian’s background will only add to that stellar team,” said Jeff Haidet, U.S. co-chief executive officer of Dentons.
Mr. McGowan has helped create a variety of economic development initiatives, including SelectUSA, Start Up Atlanta and more. He also served on the Ft. McPherson Redevelopment Board and helped Atlanta recruit and retain companies like Mercedes-Benz USA, NCR Corp., Carter’s and more.
Internationally, he helped lead trade missions to China, first for the California city of Ontario and later for the Atlanta mayor, cutting out tourism and focusing almost exclusively on putting U.S. entrepreneurs in the same room with their Chinese counterparts.
“If you want to see the Great Wall of China, don’t come with me,” he told Global Atlanta in an interview just after his arrival here in 2011.
Early in his career, Mr. McGowan participated in a USAID-backed program training cities in Bulgaria to formulate economic development strategies.
The Pendleton Group is the presenting sponsor of Global Atlanta's Economic Development Channel. Subscribe here for monthly Economic Development newsletters.
