Seth Knudsen has led Downtown Development District as President & CEO since May 2025.

Knudsen, a native New Orleanian, began his career in local government over 20 years ago and brings a strong background in urban planning and development to DDD. He most recently served as Chief of Strategy, Programs, and Projects at the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA), where he led the development and implementation of the agency’s first strategic plan and played a key role in securing new funding and creating cutting-edge community development partnerships with the City of New Orleans, NOLA Public Schools, and Agenda For Children.

While at NORA, Knudsen supported the disposition of thousands of properties and oversaw hundreds of millions of dollars in combined public and private investment in housing, economic development, and infrastructure projects across the city.

Prior to his tenure at NORA, Knudsen held various roles in local government, including planning and project management at the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO), City Planning Commission, Office of Recovery Management, and the Chief Administrative Office. He also worked for the local non-profit City-Works.

Knudsen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from Tulane University, a Master’s degree in City Planning and a Graduate Certificate in Urban Design from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a Graduate Certificate in Urban Redevelopment from the University of Pennsylvania.