Grace Lee Reynolds

Grace Lee Reynolds is a Canadian business executive who has served as chief executive officer of MaRS Discovery District since February 2025. She previously served as chief executive officer of Artscape Inc. from 2021 to 2023, and held senior leadership roles at MaRS Discovery District from 2011 to 2021, including chief financial officer and president of MaRS Discovery Enterprises.

Career

MaRS Discovery District (2011–2021) Reynolds joined MaRS Discovery District in 2011, initially as director of finance. She subsequently served as chief financial officer from 2014 to 2020, and as president of MaRS Discovery Enterprises Inc. and chief ecosystem officer. During this period she was involved in the development of the 1.5-million-square-foot MaRS Centre in downtown Toronto and in the organization's finance and partnership functions.

On 28 August 2023, Artscape announced that it would be placed into receivership and wind down its management of cultural spaces, after attempts to sell the Launchpad property had failed and TD declined to extend credit. The Globe and Mail subsequently reported, citing court filings, that the organization owed more than $21 million to TD, had long-term debt of $31.7 million at the end of 2022, and had run a $3.7 million operating deficit that year. An investigative report found that Artscape's debt had more than doubled from $17.6 million at the end of 2017 to $37.5 million by the end of 2019, driven largely by the development of the Launchpad facility, which cost approximately $31 million to build but was listed for sale at $22.5 million.

Return to MaRS and appointment as CEO (2024–present) Reynolds returned to MaRS Discovery District as head of development and programming. In April 2025, she commented publicly on the impact of tariffs on Canadian startups, citing a MaRS survey that found more than three-quarters of respondents expected tariffs to affect their business.