Embattled ex-CEO lands new job with Morgan Hill
Mahood resigned last year in the wake of a racist attack ad posted by the group
Former Silicon Valley Organization CEO Matt Mahood, who resigned last year amid intense backlash over the group’s posting of a racist campaign ad, has landed a new job.
Starting Monday, Mahood will be serving as the new economic development director for the city of Morgan Hill, the city announced Thursday.
The announcement comes nine months after he stepped down from his role leading the region’s largest chamber of commerce.
“The city’s long-term economic sustainability is paramount to the city’s goals and policies. Matt’s background, experience and connections will be instrumental in helping implement the city’s economic blueprint, support business retention and expansion for the 1 million square feet of speculative development underway,” Edith Ramirez, assistant city manager for development services, said in a news release.
Mahood, who lives in Los Gatos, said in a statement that he was “very excited to be joining the city of Morgan Hill team.”
“It’s a great city with so much positive momentum,” he said. “This is a great opportunity to work with the businesses and the residents alike to keep building a great community that attracts quality employers and builds upon an excellent quality of life.”
Mahood resigned from the Silicon Valley Organization, where he had spent 13 years as president and CEO, on Oct. 29, 2020 — three days after the business advocacy group came under fire for a racist attack ad that community members, prominent nonprofit leaders and elected officials strongly condemned for its fear-mongering and racist tropes.
The ad featured a black-andwhite image, taken in South Africa, with a group of Black men standing in a street next to a cloud of tear gas. On top of the photo, the ad read: “Do you really want to sign onto this?”
The SVO said at the time that the ad was intended to “demonstrate the consequences of cutting the police budget.”
In addition to Mahood’s resignation, the ad caused more than a dozen influential companies to drop their memberships and board seats, and the SVO dissolved its PAC — the organization’s campaign arm that supported business-friendly candidates.
Mahood denied any involvement in creating the ad and said he ordered it to be taken down as soon as he was made aware of its existence.
Still, in a statement at that time, he said it was clear to him that his resignation was best for the organization and the community so that everyone could “begin the process of healing, working together and breaking down the barriers and divisiveness that exists in our country and community.”
Mahood’s new job in Morgan
Hill will mark the longtime business advocacy leader’s first role in the public sector.
Before serving as the CEO of Silicon Valley’s largest chamber of commerce, he led the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce for nine years and had various senior management roles in the private sector. Mahood has a degree in business administration from California State University East Bay’s School of Business and Economics.
Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez said he would be a “great addition” to the city.
“His regional stature will allow him to play a critical role representing the city at the regional and state level on important issues such as transportation solutions and housing policy,” she said in the news release.