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November 16, 2022

Lamont’s top economic development advisor Lehman to depart; new replacement named

Alexandra Daum is currently the deputy DECD commissioner. She will be nominated to take over as DECD commissioner in January.
By Greg Bordonaro

 
Gov. Ned Lamont’s top economic development chief David Lehman is leaving the administration.
 
Lehman, commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development, will leave the role at the conclusion of the governor’s first term, the administration announced. 
 
He will be replaced by Alexandra Daum, who is currently the deputy DECD commissioner. Lamont said he will nominate Daum for the job when he begins his second term in office early next year. She will need to be approved by the General Assembly. 
 

HBJ FILE PHOTO
Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner David Lehman.

“Our administration has an aggressive approach to growing jobs, attracting businesses, and enhancing economic development in Connecticut, and I want the strongest, smartest, and most energetic team possible to lead these efforts on behalf of our state’s residents,” Lamont said. “For the last several years, Alexandra has worked alongside David Lehman as part of the leadership team in Connecticut’s economic development office, which is why I am confident this will be a smooth transition. In addition to being intimately familiar with the functions of this important state agency, Alexandra has existing relationships with many of Connecticut’s leading employers and industry leaders, and she is ready to hit the ground running. I am incredibly grateful to David for the service he has given to our administration and the people of Connecticut over the last four years.”
 
Daum is currently deputy commissioner and chief investment officer of DECD in a position that she has held since March 2020. In this role, she oversees public investment in local economic development projects and initiatives across Connecticut, including greenfield and brownfield real estate developments, public-private partnerships, urban revitalization efforts, offshore wind, and opportunity zones. 
 
She also manages Lamont’s community redevelopment initiatives, most notably the Connecticut Communities Challenge Grants, Brownfield Municipal Grants, and the Community Investment Fund 2030.
 
Prior to joining DECD, Daum was the founder and principal of Field Properties, a real estate investor in New Haven. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Harvard College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
 
Lehman has served as commissioner of DECD since 2019, just several weeks after Lamont was sworn into his first term in office.
 
Lamont is set to begin his second term on January 4, 2023. At that time, Daum’s nomination as commissioner will be forwarded to the General Assembly for consideration, the governor’s office said.

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