Knight Foundation announces new director

In the wake of Daniel Harris’ departure, the Knight Foundation has chosen a new San Jose program director.

Plantronics executive Christopher Thompson will lead the nonprofit’s work in the nation’s 10th largest city, the foundation announced Tuesday.

“Having worked and lived in and around San Jose for decades, I have seen the best of what Silicon Valley’s culture of innovation can do,” Thompson said in a statement. “I look forward to working side-byside with local residents, businesses and government partners to put that spirit to work in building a more informed and engaged San Jose, the thriving center of Silicon Valley.”

The news comes as San Jose under goes a downtown development boom, driven in part by a large Google project planned near Diridon Station. In taking the helm of Knight’s San Jose operations, Thompson will be tasked with addressing regional issues like housing and transit while also working to engage more residents in San Jose’s civic life.

A Toronto, Canada, native, Thompson has called the Bay Area home for 26 years. Before serving as vice president of product marketing at the communications tech outfit Plantronics, he held positions at Cisco, Nortel and other companies. He’s spoken at SXSW and the World Economic Forum.

“Knight works to bring positive transformation to all the cities where it invests,” said Sam Gill, the vice president of communities and impact for Knight. “Chris has the leadership skills and the innovative mindset needed to do just that in San Jose. He’s a longtime resident who understands the city and region, and his strong business expertise will help the city tackle new demands during a period of change and growth.”

In the last 10 years, Knight has pumped more than $25 million into San Jose.

Thompson has a bachelor of arts in macroeconomics and a master of business administration from McMaster University in Canada.

Harris moved back to New York last year.