The Kendall Square Association’s Next President Is C.A. Webb

A business organization in charge of promoting the hub of Boston’s tech and life science cluster has found a new leader.

The Kendall Square Association announced C.A. Webb as its new president on Tuesday. She initially served as interim president of the 175-member organization while it looked for a permanent leader to replace its former executive director, Alexandra Lee. 

Webb is expected to use her entrepreneurial background to expand the association’s mission to grow the neighborhood into even more of a global hub for innovation. She co-founded Underscore VC, a tech venture firm, in 2015. She previously led the New England Venture Capital Association for four years. 

"The KSA board is thrilled to have C.A. Webb join us as the leader who will take the association and Kendall Square to the next level,” KSA Board Chair and MIT co-Director of Government and Community Relations Sarah Gallop said in a prepared statement. 

Kendall is known for being a dense cluster of innovation and life science activity and has seen expansions from Shire, Pfizer and Facebook in recent years. Webb sees her organization playing to those strengths to advance the neighborhood even further. 

“Kendall Square already is a magnet for innovation-driven technology and biotech companies, along with the service providers and other businesses that work with them,” she said in a prepared statement. “The hum and energy of this community are like none other. But there is also much untapped potential.”

Webb intends to work with neighborhood residents, developers and philanthropists to address needs for public spaces as well as MBTA transit improvements. She also plans to develop strategies for building diverse, inclusive organizations in the area.