JEFFREY CHURCH NAMED PRESIDENT & CEO OF VISIT BERKELEY
BERKELEY, CA, May 14, 2024 – Jeffrey Church ’12 will become President & CEO of Visit Berkeley on June 1, 2024. Selected following a national search, he will work alongside current Visit Berkeley President & CEO Barbara Hillman through her retirement effective July 1.
“Taking the lead role at Visit Berkeley, to promote a destination I’ve come to know and love, is truly a dream come true,” said Church. “Berkeley is a beacon of diversity and discovery, and I’m absolutely thrilled to work with our talented team as we market the city as a top meeting and leisure travel destination.”
“I am delighted that Jeffrey Church will lead Visit Berkeley. He has been an incredible leader for our business community and supporter of Berkeley,” said City of Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin. “Jeffrey has developed deep relationships with local leaders and will be able to advance the important work started by Barbara Hillman.”
“Jeffrey’s work ethic and knowledge of destination marketing are formidable. Throughout his tenure, he has forged strong relationships within the Berkeley community. He’s absolutely the right choice to take Visit Berkeley to the next level as CEO,” said Barbara Hillman, Visit Berkeley President & CEO.
Church becomes Visit Berkeley’s second chief executive, with Hillman serving in that role since the organization’s founding in 1992. He was previously Visit Berkeley’s Director of Partnership Development, rising to the position in 2023 during his seventh year with Visit Berkeley.
“Barbara Hillman’s decades of tourism and hospitality industry leadership have inspired all who have worked with her,” Church added. “Her passion for Berkeley is legendary, and carrying on Barbara’s legacy will be an honor.”
“I look forward to Jeff Church’s leadership at Visit Berkeley,” said Jack Hlavac, managing director of the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton Berkeley Marina and Visit Berkeley’s board chair. “Visit Berkeley is a powerful destination marketing organization, and Jeff is the perfect candidate to continue building its influence and tourism’s positive impact for the city of Berkeley.”
A California native, Church was raised in San Jose and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley. There, he worked in the school’s Conference Services division while earning his undergraduate degree, leading to a full-time position as a conference sales coordinator before joining Visit Berkeley in 2016. In addition to leading Visit Berkeley, Church will serve as the city’s Film Commissioner. He is currently a board member for the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce. Visit Berkeley is the official Destination Marketing Organization for the city.
