The SANDAG Board of Directors unanimously approved the appointment of SANDAG’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Coleen Clementson, to lead the regional agency as the interim CEO on Friday.

Clementson will begin serving as interim CEO in January 2024. The current CEO, Hasan Ikhrata, has led SANDAG since 2018, and his last day is December 29.

“I am thrilled that there was unanimous support for Ms. Clementson to serve as our interim CEO,” said SANDAG and San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Nora Vargas. “With so many projects in the pipeline, she is exactly the leader we need to hit the ground running. Ms. Clementson understands SANDAG and the needs of our communities.  She is committed to carrying out our vision to empower and uplift community members through investments in our region’s infrastructure that help people get to the places that matter most.”

As Deputy CEO, Clementson has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of the San Diego region. Her work involves overseeing community engagement, an $800 million capital improvement program, and the implementation of the Regional Plan.

Clementson is a proud alumnus of the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and regularly lectures and mentors fellow Tritons. Recently, UCSD awarded her with their most prestigious award, Outstanding Alumna.

For more information on the CEO recruitment process, the online survey, and the upcoming public meetings, please visit SANDAG.org/ceorecruitment.