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Anna Nissinen Appointed to Head Arlington Economic DevelopmentArlington County has named Anna Nissinen as Chief Economic Development Officer and Director of Arlington Economic Development (AED), following a nationwide recruitment and search by an independent executive search firm. In this role, Nissinen will lead the development and execution of the County’s long-term economic vision and competitiveness strategy. She will begin her new role effective June 29, 2026. “I am excited to welcome Anna to Arlington,” County Manager Mark Schwartz said. “She brings a combination of global economic development experience in the region, strategic vision, collaborative leadership, and a deep understanding of how innovation economies evolve that will help propel Arlington forward. I am confident Anna will build on the momentum already underway across the County and ensure we are well positioned for the future.” Working alongside County leadership, AED staff, and public and private stakeholders, Nissinen will lead efforts to strengthen Arlington’s position as one of the nation’s leading urban innovation economies that drives demand for business investment and growth in the real estate market, promotes visitor spending, and fosters a vibrant culture and arts community. Virginia Economic Development Partnership President and CEO said Nissinen’s appointment reinforces Arlington’s importance to Virginia’s economic competitiveness. “Virginia’s continued success depends on visionary leadership in our localities, deep collaboration, and long-term strategic thinking,” El Koubi said. “Anna brings all three, along with a results-driven, proven track record of successful execution, at scale.” The appointment reflects Arlington’s continued commitment to forward thinking economic leadership and partnership. “Arlington’s success depends on strong collaboration with the business community, local government, higher education, and civic institutions,” Arlington Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Kate Bates said. “Anna’s appointment reflects the County’s commitment to that partnership-driven approach. She brings the strategic vision, expertise, and leadership needed to help guide Arlington’s next phase of economic growth and competitiveness. Nissinen’s hiring comes at a pivotal moment for Arlington, as rapid advances in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, alongside shifting commercial markets and evolving workforce expectations, are redefining how urban communities compete for talent, investment, and long-term economic resilience. “I am honored to join Team Arlington and incredibly excited to build on the strong foundation already in place,” Nissinen said. “Very few communities sit at the intersection of innovation, talent, influence, and global connectivity the way Arlington does. From National IQ and its entrepreneurial ecosystem to the County’s tourism assets, its small businesses and major headquarters, vibrant culture, and highly educated workforce, Arlington has built extraordinary momentum. The opportunity now is to build on that progress by ensuring strong alignment across the core drivers of long-term economic competitiveness. I look forward to working alongside County leadership, the exceptional team at Arlington Economic Development, partners across the region, and the broader community to advance a bold and shared vision for Arlington’s future.” AED Deputy Director Katharine (Kate) Ange has served as Acting Director of Arlington Economic Development since the previous director departed in October 2025. “My deepest appreciation goes to Kate for all her contributions over the past several months. She has been instrumental in leading a smooth transition and advancing several strategic initiatives with the AED team and community during this critical time,” Schwartz said. “Her strong leadership, professional experience and skills, and passion for the Arlington community will establish a powerful dynamic partnership with Anna, further strengthening Arlington’s economic resiliency and success moving forward.” With Nissinen’s background spanning international public diplomacy, local government leadership, commercial real estate, and strategic communications and marketing, she has built a global reputation for aligning public and private sector partnerships to strengthen long-term economic competitiveness, resilience, and opportunity while leveraging national and international investment. She currently serves on the executive leadership team of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA), where she leads global business investment, innovation, branding, marketing and competitiveness strategies for the largest economy in the Commonwealth of Virginia. During her tenure, the organization has supported the creation of more than 35,000 jobs, 5.5 million square feet of commercial space leasing activity, and more than $5 billion in earned media visibility globally. Nissinen holds an MBA in strategy from the University of Alabama and a bachelor’s degree in international business from Helsinki School of Economics and Business Administration (now Aalto University). She is Cornell University-trained in real estate development, finance and investing, and an award-winning branding and marketing strategist. Nissinen also serves on multiple regional advisory boards and works on collaborative initiatives focused on innovation, workforce development, and long-term economic competitiveness across Northern Virginia and the Greater Washington region. About Arlington Economic DevelopmentArlington Economic Development (AED) is committed to helping Arlington thrive as an economically vital, competitive and sustainable community by providing leadership and services to Arlington’s business, real estate, tourism and cultural affairs sectors. The AED team leads groundbreaking programs designed to attract and retain business in Arlington. It helps businesses get the tools and resources needed to grow and succeed. Media ContactErika Moore Image
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