BOSTON, Mass.- Emily Knight, the former president and CEO of The Engine, has been appointed Boston’s new economic development chief and will begin the role on October 19, 2026.
Knight has spent more than a decade working in entrepreneurship, innovation and economic development. She joined The Engine in 2017 and held several leadership positions before becoming president and CEO.
At The Engine, Knight led the organization’s strategic direction and developed partnerships with businesses, educational institutions and government agencies to support technology companies and help bring new technologies to market.
During her tenure, The Engine strengthened its focus on “Tough Tech,” supporting companies working on science- and engineering-focused technologies. The organization currently supports more than 150 companies and was recently recognized by TIME as one of the country’s top incubators and accelerators, according to the City of Boston.
Knight previously managed general operations, strategy and product development at Workbar coworking spaces. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and is a longtime Boston resident who lives in Roslindale.
Mayor Michelle Wu said Knight’s experience building partnerships across industry, education and government would support the city’s economic development efforts.
Knight said she plans to focus on helping companies start and grow in Boston while expanding access to the jobs and industries created by the city’s innovation economy.
