UPDATE — May 29, 2026: Six days after WEHOonline broke the news of Len Lanzi’s administrative leave from the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, the board confirmed late Friday that he is no longer serving as president and CEO, effective immediately. Executive board member Jacob Shaw has been named interim president and CEO while the board determines its next steps. Shaw is a West Hollywood business owner and co-owner of Beaches and Beaches Tropicana. He has served on the chamber’s board of directors and will oversee day-to-day operations until a permanent leadership decision is made.
WEHOonline broke the news last Saturday, May 23. Original story below.
Leonard “Len” Lanzi, the president and chief executive officer of the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, has been placed on administrative leave by the chamber’s board of directors. A source confirmed to WEHOonline. The board hasn’t publicly stated a reason.
Lanzi had been in the role for fewer than five months. He was announced as the chamber’s next president and CEO on December 8, 2025. He’d formally started on January 12, 2026. Four months on the job.
He succeeded Genevieve Morrill, who’d stepped down after 16 years leading the organization. Morrill had served as president and CEO since 2010. She’d guided the chamber through the COVID-19 pandemic. She also helped develop the My WeHo: Keep WeHo Open campaign and WeHo for the People, a coalition of West Hollywood businesses and residents.
Lanzi brought more than 30 years of experience in Southern California’s entrepreneurial and civic sectors. He’d served as executive director of the Los Angeles Venture Association. He also held leadership positions with the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, including treasurer. He’d directed the Preccelerator Program, a startup initiative through the law firm Stubbs Alderton & Markiles.
WEHOonline reached out to business owner and chamber member Larry Block for comment.
He told us rumblings began approximately two weeks ago. Confidential sources approached Block, asking him to bring their concerns to the chamber’s board of directors. Block was told there were problems inside the chamber and that “time was of the essence,” according to those sources. Block would not confirm additional details of the conversation.
“I was told of the problem two weeks ago,” Block said. “I was asked to get the board of directors involved.”
Block said he relayed the concerns to the board and could not comment further.
Multiple chamber members, speaking on condition of anonymity, described a mixed picture in the weeks leading up to the board’s action. Some said Lanzi wasn’t meeting the mark on fundraising. Others cited personality clashes. Still others said they liked him personally. The accounts ran the gamut.
A meeting with Lanzi took place the previous Friday. The board addressed those matters with him this week. We were told Lanzi was absent from Monday night’s council meeting.
About the Chamber
The West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1921. It’s a 501(c)(6) nonprofit that advocates for the city’s business community before local government and promotes commercial and economic growth throughout West Hollywood. Its membership includes shops, restaurants, salons, and professional services throughout the city.
June Event in Question
The chamber’s biggest annual event is now in question. West Hollywood State of the City 2026, themed “Unbridled Momentum,” is scheduled for June 23, 2026, at the London Hotel, in partnership with the City of West Hollywood. It’s one of two major fundraisers the chamber holds each year. WEHOonline has been told the event “is a work in progress.” The gathering typically features the mayor’s keynote address, with city leadership and chamber board members also on the program.
WEHOonline will update this story as more information becomes available.
Genevieve left some very big shoes to fill. I’m not sure anyone would succeed in the role at this point.
West Hollywood needs to start acting as a family. The city council (the 3 in majority) is really not inspiring business confidence. Byers, Erickson, Hang, just stop your selfish nonsense and start to get on with us. The economy is slowing, California population is declining, West Hollywood is a boarded up mess.
This is a serious set back for the Chamber which as been adrift for a couple of years while struggling to meet the challenges of a slow motion economic slide, both locally and nationally. Given the actual State of the City, the theme “Unbridled Momentum” seems like a bad joke. I found Len anxious to reach out to get a broader view of the City and I wish him well.
Wow. Spill the tea!! What caused such an abrupt change!!!!???? You got me hooked.
I have known Len for many years going back probably to the very early 2000s. If not before I seem to recall, he might have been involved at junior achievement, but my memory is slightly fuzzy going back that far I will say in all of my interactions with Lynn over many years when we both sat on a board, I found him to be extremely professional motivated, and probably one of the most polite and polished people I have met who volunteered to serve on numerous boards over the time I have known him and whatever the issues are… Read more »
I wonder if there was some sort of malfeasance involved for this chamber of commerce president to be put on administrative leave.