Discover our mission, values, and leadership.
Explore benefits that power your success.
Browse our network of businesses.
Explore opportunities to connect and grow.
Don’t miss our upcoming Government Affairs Forum with Massachusetts State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg.
12/09/2025
9:45am - 11:00am
Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
Take advantage of exclusive perks and programs for members.
Browse our directory to find and connect with member community.
Join experiences that build relationships and spark ideas.
City Awake empowers young professionals in a variety of ways that encourages these rising leaders to stay invested in the region’s future success.
Our Boston’s Future Leaders (BFL) program provides emerging leaders with a socially conscious and civically engaged leadership toolkit, as well as the opportunity to apply their knowledge through experiential assignments.
The Massachusetts Apprentice Network convenes employers, training providers, and talent sources interested in developing and implementing apprenticeship programs in occupations across industries and statewide in fields such as tech, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, and more.
Level up your leadership and communication in this Boston Chamber workshop for professionals—gain essential skills in team alignment.
The Chamber Foundation invites the business community to engage with Boston Public Schools leaders and their students to help build the future workforce.
Learn how we advance talent and small business growth.
Explore our key priorities and strategic efforts.
Join us at our next Foundation event.
Boston, MA – The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the hire of David Brown as its first Vice President of Innovation Leadership. In his new role, Brown will support Chamber President & CEO James E. Rooney in providing leadership to cultivate emerging and strategic technology and innovation ecosystem growth in the greater Boston region, doing so in an inclusive way. Brown will lead the way in addressing the opportunities within the growing and changing business community of Boston by developing and implementing programs that provide support, networking and advocacy for members of the Commonwealth’s innovation community.
Early priorities outlined for Brown include creating a network of resources and outreach activities to further develop the innovative and entrepreneurial collaboration of all businesses in the Boston region; building and managing a new Greater Boston Innovation Economy Leadership Council; assessing the innovation ecosystem talent development needs and evaluating existing Chamber initiatives; and establishing strategic relationships within the technology and innovation ecosystem and with special interest groups. A new, yet-to-be-named Chamber Director of Innovation and Inclusion will also support Brown to promote opportunities and develop strategies for greater participation of women, minorities and young professionals in the Chamber and in Greater Boston’s growing innovation economy.
I couldn’t be more excited to welcome David to the Chamber, said Rooney. Not only is he experienced, creative and willing to help us think differently about reaching the many different stakeholders of Boston’s innovation economy, but he is also passionate about helping businesses and entrepreneurs grow and succeed in our city. Add that passion to his already well-established network of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and CEOs and you get the perfect person for this exciting new role at the Chamber.
Positioning the Chamber as a resource for the next generation of businesses in Boston is major organizational priority, said Dr. Navjot Singh, Director of McKinsey’s Boston office and Chairman of the Chamber’s board of directors. Adding a senior team member like David who is focused on not just tapping into the innovation ecosystem, but someone who is dedicated to cultivating growth in a strategic way by spurring collaboration between emerging entrepreneurs and major established players in Greater Boston is an important step that ensures the Boston business community remains a leader in today’s knowledge-based economy.
Brown was selected for the role of Vice President of Innovation Leadership from more than 150 candidates. Korn Ferry assisted in the screening and selection process on a pro bono basis.
Boston is unparalleled as a place to live and start a company, said Brown. We already have one of the best startup ecosystems in the US and I am excited to work with the Boston Chamber to expand the values, opportunities, and inclusiveness of business in Boston so it will emerge as the leading business community in the world. Jim Rooney is a transformative leader and I look forward to working with him and the rest of the Chamber team.
Prior to joining the Chamber, Brown served as the Executive Director of TUGG (Technology Underwriting Greater Good), a community engagement platform that connects New England tech entrepreneurs with the riskiest social enterprises serving local under-resourced youth. At TUGG, Brown worked with more than 400 Boston-area companies leading entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and community providers while also developing venture funding strategy, honing investment focus and managing the interaction of nonprofits and the investment selection process.
In addition to his experience at TUGG, Brown served as the Director of Strategic Partnerships at ZappRx, a digital health platform that provides secure, online collaboration between patients, health care providers and pharmacists, where he lead partnership identification, planning, outreach and execution as well as marketing strategy.
Brown is actively engaged as a board member for a number of nonprofit boards including City Awake, InnerCity Weightlifting, Arts Connect International and TUGG. He has also served as an Industry Champion and lead mentor for MassChallenge since 2013. He is also a Council Member for ONEin3 Boston, where he helps advise Mayor Martin J. Walsh on issues relevant to Boston’s under-35 population and plans programs to unify that community.
Brown received his MBA from Babson College and his bachelor’s degree from Williams College. He lives in West Roxbury.
Katie Hauser
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
[email protected]617-557-7354
Popular Resources