State Senate Confirms Governor’s Economic Development Chief
The state Senate this week approved Gov. Ned Lamont’s appointment of former Goldman Sachs partner David Lehman as commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development.
Lehman, 41, of Greenwich, will also serve as senior economic adviser to Lamont.
Gov. Lamont introduced his nominee for DECD commissioner, David Lehman (at left, with his wife Laura), and new CERC chairs Jim Smith and Indra Nooyi at a press conference last month.
Lamont said Lehman “has hit the ground running—connecting with over 30 of our state’s business leaders, touring companies in nearly a dozen communities across the state, meeting with all regional chambers of commerce, and sitting down with numerous legislators.”
Lehman left a successful career to lead DECD and, like the governor, will not be paid a salary.
Collaboration
He will coordinate a collaboration between DECD and a rejuvenated Connecticut Economic Resource Center, a public-private partnership originally created to help towns and companies.
Former PepsiCo chair and CEO Indra Nooyi and retired Webster Bank chair and CEO Jim Smith will jointly lead CERC.
Lamont said Lehman, Nooyi, and Smith will be part of his “strategic vision to aggressively pursue business” and grow the economy.
Nooyi and Smith said Lehman’s confirmation “sends a strong message to businesses large and small, to start-ups, and to entrepreneurs who want to make our state their home.”
“This is a new day, there is new leadership, and we look forward to working with you to make Connecticut a more business-friendly state for your company,” the pair said in a statement following the Senate vote.
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