IE Business Daily Business news for the Inland Empire.
Miguel Santana, city administrative officer with the city of Los Angeles, has been named president and chief executive officer of the Los Angeles County Fair Association.
Santana, who helped bring Los Angeles back from the financial brink in the aftermath of the Great Recession, will take over Jan. 17, according to multiple reports.
His appointment was announced Wednesday.
The non-profit association runs the annual fair – one of the largest county fair’s in the United States – every September, as well as conventions, trade shows and other events at the 543-acre Fairplex in Pomona.
Nearly one year ago, James Henwood Jr. stepped down as the association’s chief executive officer amid allegations of excessive pay, bonuses and other financial improprieties. Those charges involved Henwood and some of the association’s other top executives.
Also, a state audit found that millions of dollars in tax revenue were diverted from Fairplex’s hotel and conference center as well as other operations, according to reports.
Santana will replace J. Michael Ortiz, who was named the association’s interim president when Henwood resign
