With over two decades of experience spanning California politics, corporate and nonprofit leadership, seasoned external affairs executive Carlos Illingworth launched The Illingworth Group, a strategic public affairs firm
in 2026.

Illingworth is the Senior Director of Community Relations for the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, which has produced the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game for over 135 years. In this role, he leads the vision and strategy for community relations, maintaining relationships with leaders in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. He is also responsible for government affairs, serving as the primary liaison to elected officials, and serves as Executive Director of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Foundation.

During his time with the Tournament, he has expanded community partnerships and created a portfolio of signature community programs. Illingworth introduced the Tournament’s inaugural Community Impact Report, now published annually, reimagined the Association’s community focus areas and established the Foundation’s Golf Classic, now in its fifth year. He also led the Tournament’s first trip to the California State Capitol, raising the awareness of the Rose Parade’s and Rose Bowl Game’s annual economic impact and cultural value to the State of California.

Prior to joining the Tournament of Roses, Illingworth served as Director of Public Affairs and Communications at Coca-Cola North America, where he represented the beverage company in California and Nevada. Before Coca-Cola, he led external affairs for Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions across Central and Southern California, and Nevada.

Early in his career, after graduating from Cal State L.A., where he was a two-term student body president, Illingworth worked for members of the California State Legislature.

Illingworth has served on several business and nonprofit boards, which has allowed him to develop an extensive multi-sector network of relationships. He resides in the City of Whittier with his wife Corrine and three children, and is active in his community.