Karan Gill

Deputy Executive

Karan Gill assists the County Executive in managing the day-to-day operations of the county in collaboration with the Cabinet and the Senior Leadership team. He is responsible for leading the strategic direction and coordination for the Executive’s priorities — and advising on emerging issues, policy development, and external and governmental relations. He also serves on the Senior Leadership Team. Prior roles in the Executive’s Office include Chief of Staff and Council Relations Director in former Executive Dow Constantine’s office. 

Prior to joining the Executive’s Office, he was Chief of Staff to former King County Councilmember Dave Upthegrove. He also worked at the Washington State Legislature for House Speaker Frank Chopp and served as a community relations lead for a local anti-poverty nonprofit in South King County. Gill has also served on various nonprofit boards including the Budget and Policy Center and the South King County Human Services Council. Gill has more than 20 years of experience in governmental affairs, external relations, and policy advocacy. 

Karan was raised in Renton and has called King County home for over 40 years. Karan is married to his wife, Lita, and has two sons. 

Megan Pedersen

Chief People Officer

Megan is a results-oriented and people-centered leader with over 15 years of experience in operations, labor relations, people strategy and employee engagement. She joined King County in 2010 as a litigator in the Office of Labor Relations (OLR). In 2012, she moved into leadership as the Deputy Director of the Records and Licensing Division, where she furthered operational excellence through labor-management partnerships. She was appointed by Executive Constantine in 2016 as OLR Director. Since that time, she has led total compensation negotiations for the county with the Coalition of Unions, including bargaining the first Coalition Labor Agreement covering 60+ unions. She has also led the county’s benefits strategy and bargained agreements covering health care for the county’s largest benefit group, the Joint Labor Management Insurance Committee (JLMIC) and ATU. From 2022-23, Megan was served as Special Liaison to the Executive supporting DAJD’s new leadership team with alignment across the enterprise.

Kristin Elia

Communications Director

Kristin leads the executive communications team, developing and guiding the communications strategy for Executive Constantine’s priorities and working closely with departments to coordinate storytelling opportunities that highlight how King County is making a welcoming community where every person can thrive.

Kristin has more than 15 years of experience in issue advocacy, communications, campaign organizing, and strategic planning. Before joining the executive’s office, Kristin worked at Weber Shandwick — a global communications and public relations agency. She also worked with the Washington state affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, developing and overseeing strategies for education advocacy campaigns and before that for several nonprofits focused on issue advocacy in the political and legislative realms.