Cuomo Picks New Economic Development Chief

Names Kenneth Adams, former president of state Biz Council

Thursday, Jan 27, 2011 | Updated 3:30 PM EDT

Cuomo Picks New Economic Development Chief

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo delivers his first State of the State address at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany, N.Y., Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has selected Kenneth Adams, president of the Business Council of New York State, to run the state's economic development agency and picked an adviser on urban parks to head the state parks office.

Kenneth Adams will be chief executive of Empire State Development Corp. and commissioner of the state Department of Economic Development if confirmed by the state Senate.

Rose Harvey, tapped as commissioner of the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, is a senior fellow at the Jonathan Rose Companies and former national director of urban programs at The Trust for Public Land.

The Business Council says Heather Briccetti, vice president of government affairs, will be its acting president.

Get the latest headlines sent to your inbox!