Christine Essel is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CRA/LA. With an annual budget exceeding $600 million and a work program covering 32 project areas throughout the City of Los Angeles, CRA/LA is the largest redevelopment agency in the State of California. Ms. Essel joined the agency in May 2010 and brings her expertise to the agency at a time when the City is increasing its focus on creating and preserving jobs by attracting and retaining businesses.

Under Ms. Essel’s leadership, the mission of CRA/LA is to create economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for current and future generations living in CRA/LA project areas. CRA/LA is focused on creating family-supporting jobs, producing affordable and workforce housing, promoting sustainable urbanism and delivering significant, transformative investment to areas of Los Angeles that have not shared in the city’s cycles of prosperity.

Prior to joining CRA/LA, Ms. Essel was an executive with Paramount Pictures for more than 30 years, most recently as Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Community Affairs. In that role, Ms. Essel was responsible for shaping Paramount’s civic and political presence at the state and local levels and developing legislative strategy. During her tenure at the studio she also served as Sr. Vice President Planning and Development, leading her team in the expansion and redevelopment of the 65-acre facility in Hollywood. 

Ms. Essel has been a longtime active civic leader. In 1992, Ms. Essel became a Commissioner on the Board of CRA/LA, serving for more than six years including nearly four years as Chair. She served as a Los Angeles World Airports Commissioner, and with the California Film Commission, leading the Film Commission’s Board as its Chair for nine years. More recently, she was the First Vice-Chair of FilmLA, and an Officer and Immediate Past Chair of Central City Association.

She has also served asVice-Chair of the California Workforce Investment Board, and Board President of Alternative Living for The Aging. She received ALA’s Sheldon Andelson Award, the Woman of the Year Award from the City of Hope Diamond Circle, the Woman of Distinction Award from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and the Community Leader and 2009 “Calendar” Awards from the National Women's Political Caucus.