Mayor Alvin Brown appointed Theodore Carter as executive director of the City's Office of Economic Development.
"He's the best choice to focus on the City's role in economic development, to work with all the stakeholders," Brown said Friday during the announcement.
In the role, he will lead economic development efforts for non-Downtown areas.
The office was established earlier this year as part of Brown's economic development reform, which created the office and the Downtown Investment Authority.
Carter previously served as an executive managing director for CBRE in Washington, D.C., beginning in 2008, a role in which he led sales, marketing and business development for the Public Institutions and Education Solutions Group, according to a profile on the company's website.
From 2005-07, he served as CBRE's South Florida office, where he was responsible for all lines of business for five offices, according to the profile.
Jim Reid, CBRE U.S. Eastern Division president, said on Friday that Carter was an "outstanding business executive" who helped rapidly grow the South Florida market until he was asked to take on greater duties for the company in Washington, D.C. He called Carter an effective marketer who has "worked on both sides of the fence" in the public and private sectors, all attributes that he expects Carter to bring to Jacksonville and succeed.
Carter has experience working with agencies such as the U.S. Department of the Treasury and city governments in New York, Newark, N.J., and Washington, D.C.
JAXUSA Partnership President Jerry Mallot on Friday said Carter was a "really bright individual" who he has met several times, once in a business capacity and twice in the City recruitment process. He said he is convinced Carter will work well with the partnership in recruiting businesses to the city.
Reid said that Carter will remain with CBRE through December to help with the transition and Brown said he would begin in the next several weeks.
His salary will be $195,000.
Carter is still subject to City Council confirmation, and will likely appear before committees for review in early January.
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