Hermosa Beach has appointed an advisor to Santa Monica City Manager Rick Cole as its next chief executive.
On Tuesday, the Hermosa Beach City Council unanimously approved the hiring of Suja Lowenthal as its next city manager. She will take the reins from John Jalili who assumed the interim position following the March departure of Sergio Gonzalez.
Lowenthal was appointed Senior Advisor to Santa Monica’s City Manager on Airport Affairs in 2017. She previously served as the city’s Transit Planning and Community Engagement Monitor (2012-2017) and as a member of the Long Beach City Council (2006-2016). She has also worked for a number of water agencies, including the South Bay’s West Basin Municipal Water District. She is a former alternate member on the California Coastal Commission, as well as a former member of the Long Beach Unified School District Board of Education (2001-2006).
Lowenthal was born in Madras, India and immigrated to the United States in 1977. She attended UCLA, Cal State Los Angeles, and USC, eventually earning a doctorate in planning, policy, and development.
“We are thrilled to have found such a great fit for our city at such a pivotal time in our development,” said Mayor Jeff Duclos in a statement. “Suja’s extensive knowledge of all the various facets of local government, her experience as a Coastal Commissioner, her work in the fields of transportation, education and water management, and her experience in business development and public-private partnerships will be of great benefit to us.”
Lownthal will assume the position Sept. 17 at an annual salary of $219,000.