Paul Krutko has been Ann Arbor SPARK’s President and CEO since 2011. Paul has over four decades of economic and community development expertise. He led San Jose, California’s economic development efforts as chief development officer. He had similar roles in Cleveland and Jacksonville Florida. In addition to his responsibilities as SPARK CEO, Paul Krutko was honored to serve as chair of the preeminent professional economic development organization in the world, the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). Paul was founding chair of the Economic Development Research Partnership. He was designated an Honorary Life Member of IEDC in 2013 and received its Legacy Award in 2025.
Paul is a past chair of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) serving in that capacity from 2019-2021. He is also Treasurer of the American Center for Mobility. He is a board member of Economic Development Leaders of Michigan and the University of Michigan’s Innovation Partnerships National Advisory Board. Paul earned a Bachelor of Urban Planning and Design degree from the University of Cincinnati, College of Design, Architecture and Art in 1979.