Longwood Gardens recently announced the appointment of Matthew Earnest as Chief Strategy Officer. In this new role, Earnest will help drive the implementation of Longwood’s 2030 Strategic Plan and the activation of other strategic business initiatives and will work to develop metrics to measure the impact of Longwood’s mission. 

Well-versed in the development of non-profit and commercial cultural institutions, Earnest comes to Longwood after 13 years as the cofounder and Principal of Entertainment + Culture Advisors (ECA), a global consulting firm specializing in strategy and market analysis for large-scale cultural attractions. There, he advised clients, including Longwood, on strategy, business planning, evaluation of visitor segments, attendance and pricing potential, and financial feasibility. 

“Matt’s data-backed insights into the cultural destination industry and his enthusiasm for implementing visions for global organizations make him a great addition to our leadership team,” said Paul B. Redman, president and CEO of Longwood Gardens. “His expertise in destination development and his business acumen, makes him well-suited to activate Longwood’s strategic initiatives.”

Earnest’s experiences in branded attractions and entertainment span the categories of media, culinary, retail, cultural institutions, sports, real estate, and more across national and international clients. 

“It’s an honor to step into this new role at Longwood as the organization continues to build on its long legacy of continually innovating to reach new audiences,” Earnest said. “I look forward to joining the team and helping to propel Longwood’s mission into the future.”  

Before his tenure at Entertainment + Culture Advisors, Earnest worked as the Principal and Regional Director of the Economics Practice for Economics Research Associates (ERA) / AECOM. There he managed the Los Angeles and San Francisco offices for Economics Research Associates, which later became the Economics Practice at AECOM. As a leader in the Leisure and Entertainment Practice, he advised national and international clients on land use options, available markets, program sizing, and economic feasibility. His prior experiences also include roles in business development, business planning, and interactive TV content development for institutions such as Digeo, Checkout.com, and The Walt Disney Company. 

Earnest arrives as Longwood is in the midst of its most ambitious capital project in a century, Longwood Reimagined: A New Garden Experience and expansion of its mission platform to being a multi-site organization with the pending acquisition to conserve the 505-acre estate, Granogue, located in New Castle County, Del. Longwood Reimagined is a $250 million project that encompasses 17 acres and includes a 32,000 square-foot, state-of-the art conservatory, a new administration building, and new dining and event spaces. The project is slated for completion in fall 2024.

Earnest holds an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management and a degree in Earth Systems from Stanford University.