Gov. Nathan Deal on Thursday moved quickly to fill the top job at the state Department of Economic Development by nominating the agency’s No. 2 official for promotion.
Deal nominated Pat Wilson to fill the role of commissioner which is being vacated by Chris Carr, who will become the state's attorney general on Nov. 1. Wilson is the economic development agency's chief operating officer and an experienced hand in recruiting companies to Georgia.
Wilson’s appointment, subject to approval by the department’s board, will take place Nov. 1.
Wilson, a Sandy Springs resident, is a former deputy commissioner for global commerce and has served as the department’s COO since 2011. The University of Georgia graduate is well-known at the State Capitol, previously serving as director of government affairs for former Gov. Sonny Perdue, as a director of federal affairs for the state in Washington, D.C., and as a former aide for the late U.S. Senator Paul Coverdell.
The move to appoint Wilson is part of a spate of moves that was precipitated by the recent decision by the Board of Regents to appoint Attorney General Sam Olens as president of Kennesaw State University.
On Wednesday, Deal named Carr, a protégé of U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson and Deal, as the attorney general.
Deal’s office also said Thursday that that David Werner, the state’s chief operating officer, will replace Wilson as the economic development department’s COO effective next month. Werner has served in numerous advising and policy roles within the executive and legislative branches.
He is a former deputy chief of staff of legislative and external affairs, and served as co-chairman on Deal’s Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform and sits on the Georgia Ports Authority board.
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