State Senator Tony Hwang released the following statement in regards to Governor Ned Lamon’ts announcement about the appointments of David Lehman as Chief Economic Advisor and new Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner and partnership with non-profit Connecticut Economic Resource Center led by Jim Smith and Indra Nooyi.
“I applaud Governor Lamont’s innovative thinking and his continued dedication to using public-private partnerships to bring Connecticut into the future. I want to thank Indra Nooyi, Jim Smith, and David Lehman for stepping up to offer their time and talent toward creating a reinvigorated and entrepreneurial economic ecosystem. Economic development is the keystone to putting Connecticut back on track, and this out-of-the-box approach that draws on proven business leaders who have volunteered to help fix our state is a new and excellent way to think about growing our economy,” said Senator Hwang.
David Lehman is a former Goldman Sachs executive who offered his services to Governor Lamont. Lehman has been named the Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), and will also serve as Governor Lamont’s Chief Economic Advisor. Indra Nooyi, former Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, and Jim Smith, former Chairman and CEO of Webster Bank, will co-chair the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Economic Resource Center (CERC), the non-profit, recruitment arm of the public-private Partnership to Advance the Connecticut of Tomorrow (PACT) between CERC and DECD.
“If Connecticut is to retake our place as a leader in this nation, we need to resurrect the entrepreneurial spirit of this state, foster a sustainable business environment and develop the workforce necessary to compliment the businesses that want to be a part of a Connecticut comeback story. This partnership is a great first step in that direction and I look forward to what PACT can accomplish.”
