Choose Chicago Announces Key Leadership Promotions

The organization strengthens its sales, marketing, and HR teams to drive Chicago's meetings and conventions business.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 7:05am

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a polished metal trophy, a leather-bound notebook, and a set of professional business cards arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic seamless background, conceptually representing the abstract concepts of leadership, strategy, and talent development within the business events industry.Choose Chicago's strategic leadership changes aim to elevate the city's status as a premier global meetings destination.Chicago Today

Choose Chicago, the city's tourism and convention bureau, has announced a series of strategic staff promotions across its sales, marketing, communications, human resources, and Chicago Sports Commission teams. The announcements are headlined by the promotion of Dustin Arnheim to Chief Sales Officer, who will lead the organization's global sales strategy and serve as a key ambassador for Chicago. The company also promoted Radhika Agarwal to Vice President of Human Resources, where she will continue to evolve HR into a more strategic function.

Why it matters

These leadership changes at Choose Chicago come at a critical time as the city works to rebuild its meetings and conventions business following the pandemic. Strengthening the organization's sales, marketing, and HR capabilities will be crucial to attracting more events and visitors to Chicago.

The details

Dustin Arnheim, previously Senior Vice President of Sales and Client Services, has been promoted to Chief Sales Officer. In this new role, he will lead Choose Chicago's global sales strategy, drive meetings and convention demand, advance client engagement, and serve as a key ambassador for the city. Radhika Agarwal has been promoted to Vice President of Human Resources, where she will continue to evolve HR into a more strategic function, modernizing performance management, strengthening employee development pathways, and supporting organizational growth.

  • Arnheim has served as Senior Vice President of Sales and Client Services since July 2022.

The players

Dustin Arnheim

A respected leader within the meetings and conventions industry, Arnheim has been promoted to Chief Sales Officer at Choose Chicago.

Radhika Agarwal

Agarwal has been promoted to Vice President of Human Resources at Choose Chicago, where she will continue to evolve HR into a more strategic function.

Kristen Reynolds

The President and CEO of Choose Chicago, who praised Arnheim's leadership and its impact on strengthening the organization's sales team and delivering results for the city.

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What they’re saying

“Dustin's leadership has been instrumental in strengthening our sales organization and delivering meaningful results for Chicago. He brings a powerful combination of strategic vision, deep industry relationships, and a people-first leadership style that will continue to elevate Chicago's position as a premier global meetings destination.”

— Kristen Reynolds, President and CEO, Choose Chicago

The takeaway

These leadership changes at Choose Chicago demonstrate the organization's commitment to strengthening its sales, marketing, and HR capabilities to drive the city's meetings and conventions business in the post-pandemic era. By promoting experienced leaders like Arnheim and Agarwal, Choose Chicago is positioning itself to better attract events and visitors to Chicago.