AMHERST — Liz Larson, the Amherst Business Improvement District’s director of operations, will be the interim executive director starting Feb. 26.

Larson was announced as the interim lead after the Amherst BID’s board of directors offered her the job to take over from Gabrielle Gould, who is leaving the role this month.

Larson took a lead in creating the Makers’ Market at the annual Sip and Shop Stroll and the recent “Take a Dino to Dinner” campaign.

In a statement, Larson said plans are already underway for the Summer Concerts in July and the Block Party in September.

“It has been such a joy to be part of the BID team, advocating for and creating a downtown that is welcoming and attractive to our entire community,” Larson said, adding that she looks forward to continuing to work closely with the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce and the Visitors’ Information Center.

Larson brings a background in arts administration and nonprofit management, coming to Amherst with her family in 2007, serving on several boards and committees, including the PGOs for the public schools and the Participatory Budgeting Commission for Amherst. Larson is also a trustee and the board treasurer for the Amherst Historical Society. Before moving to Amherst, she spent 20 years in New York and Tokyo.

BID President Barry Roberts said Larson is creative and detail-oriented. “Liz stepping into the interim job is perfect. She has worked with Gabrielle every step of the way and shares her passion and commitment to the downtown, our small businesses and this community,” Roberts said.

Gould, too, praised Larson, noting the new Amherst Retail Destination campaign to launch. “Liz has been such a great coworker, co-conspirator and co-creative — we developed many great concepts over the years,” Gould said.

— Scott Merzbach