Mayor Names Chief Economic Development Officer

Mayor Kathy Taylor announced today that she has named former Boeing Executive Michael “Mike” Bunney as the City’s new Chief Economic Development Officer.

Bunney is returning to Tulsa following a thirty year career as an executive in the aerospace industry. Most recently, Bunney served as Director of 787 Global Logistics for The Boeing Company. As the City’s new lead for economic development initiatives, he will manage the real estate and economic development division and insure that Tulsa is seen around the world as open for business.

“Mike Bunney is returning to Tulsa at an exciting time,” said Mayor Kathy Taylor. “We are working to revitalize downtown, our aerospace industry continues to be a strong economic engine and we are seeing growth in many areas. There is simply no one more capable of taking Tulsa to ‘best in class’ in all of our industry sectors.”

Bunney, 55, began his business career at the McDonnell Douglas facility in Tulsa, where he was Director of Financial Management. He then joined The Boeing Company serving as General Manager for Delta Decatur Operations and Site Director for Boeing’s OKC Operations. Bunney earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Oklahoma in 1974 and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Tulsa in 1981.

“I am very fortunate to be coming to Tulsa at this moment,” said Bunney. “The completion this year of the new BOK Arena is creating great interest and opportunities for growth in Tulsa. The Mayor is getting the team in place to make certain we capitalize on those opportunities.”

Bunney announced his retirement from Boeing three weeks ago after more than three decades in the aerospace business. He will assume his duties with the City March 3rd. His salary is $125,000. He has been the recipient of numerous awards and headed operations that were winners of the Oklahoma and Alabama Quality Awards.

“I have had the pleasure to work with mike Bunney on national economic development opportunities with the Boeing company”, said Steve Hendrickson, director of government relations for the Boeing company and chair of the Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development. “I know that he enjoys an outstanding national reputation in the aerospace industry. Mike is well known among economic development professionals around the country as an expert in understanding company’s economic development needs and what makes cities competitive in the business arena. Mike Bunney was one of the site location leaders for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner project and organized the strategic vision for its innovative completion.”

“Mike Bunney is a proven leader and a true agent of change,” said Taylor. “His leadership at Boeing demonstrated unparalleled vision and the ability to execute a solid plan. It is rare to get a person of his experience to bring those talents to the public sector. I could not be more pleased that he is returning to help make Tulsa the most business-friendly city in the country.”’

Bunney has been married to his wife Kristie for 31 years. They have two daughters who are currently attending the University of Oklahoma.