Gloria Cordes Larson, JD, president of Bentley University, is the first female chair in the distinguished history of the Greater Boston Chamber. A unanimous choice of the Chamber’s Executive and Nominating Committees, her two-year term began on May 14, 2008 when she was inaugurated at the Chamber’s 99th Annual
Meeting & Dinner.
In accepting her new responsibilities, Larson stated: “The Chamber’s mission to promote a strong, growing economy is critically important. I look forward to serving as chair of the Chamber and advancing its work to encourage industry innovation, economic growth, and job creation here in Massachusetts.”
A prominent attorney, public policy expert, and renowned business leader, Larson formerly served as co-chair of the Government Strategies Group at Foley Hoag, a leading national law firm. In this position, Larson managed a practice that covered a broad array of federal, state and local regulatory and business development issues, including real estate development, energy, insurance, environmental permitting, transportation, advertising and internet privacy matters.
Widely influential in economic policy, Larson led a business advisory cabinet for Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, and served as co-chair of his transition team. She was Secretary of Economic Affairs from 1993 to 1996 and Secretary of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation from 1991 to 1993, under Massachusetts Governor William Weld. Prior to her state service, she managed business and regulatory issues at the federal level as a senior official
with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Larson served as an attorney adviser to the FTC Commissioner from 1981 to 1988, and as the Deputy Director of Consumer Protection at the FTC from 1990 to 1991.
Larson serves as chair of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, director of Unum Group, and lead director of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. She is a board member on several prominent professional and community organizations, including the Boston Center for the Arts; Roger Williams University School of Law; Massachusetts Women’s Forum; Rosie’s Place; and The Dimock Center. She is a member of the Massachusetts, Virginia and Boston bar associations.
She received her bachelor of arts with honors from Vassar College and earned her juris doctorate from the University of Virginia School of Law. She is married to Allen Larson, an attorney.