The New York Convention Center Operating Corporation (NYCCOC) has announced that Dr Debonair Oates-Primus (pictured) will join the leadership team at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center as new chief administrative officer. The appointment is effective 17 February, 2026.
In her new role, Dr Deb will be responsible for leading Javits Center’s administrative systems, human capital, and show labour strategies. She has a remit to foster a people-first culture and build long-term strategies across human resources, organisational development.
Dr Deb described her appointment as “a chance to champion the people who make this New York icon work. The grit and talent found on this team are unmatched, and I’m ready to hit the ground running to execute the CEO’s vision for our next chapter. My goal as CAO is to make sure our internal people strategy is every bit as legendary as the building itself. We’re going to innovate our culture with the same passion we’ve used to expand our physical footprint, ensuring the diverse workforce behind the scenes is just as celebrated as the world-class events we host on the floor.”
Dr Deb most recently served as vice-president of social impact and cultural engagement at Oak View Group, where she oversaw employee engagement and DEI strategy for more than 70,000 employees across over 400 venues.
In addition to hiring a new CAO, Javits Center’s executive team has seen two additional changes. Sonia Low has been promoted to senior vice-president, chief legal officer and corporate secretary. Kenneth Sanchez has been promoted to senior vice-president and chief operating officer. They joined Javits Center in 2019 and 2012, respectively.
