Jim Bennett to be Named President of Commerce RI
GoLocalProv Business Team
Jim Bennett to be Named President of Commerce RI
Bennett, who has led a number of private sector firms, served as the head of economic development for the City of Providence. and chaired the Rhode Island Convention Center, is being tapped by Governor Dan McKee in an effort to stabilize the agency.
In February, GoLocal unveiled that many of the top executives at Commerce have resigned at an alarming rate in the past two years.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIn just the past 24 months, multiple top-tier executives have resigned, and in some top positions, the job has been turned over numerous times.
The turnover correlates with the last two years of McKee’s governorship. And, much of the exodus has occurred since Liz Tanner took over as Secretary of Commerce beginning in June of 2022.
President’s Position - Bennett Will Be Fourth President at Commerce in Two Years
The President’s position at Commerce had been held by Jesse Saglio for seven years; he resigned in February of 2022.
Hilary Fagan took over as President, and then she resigned in December of 2022. Since then, Bill Ash served as “acting” president.
This spring, Ash announced his departure and left Commerce in early March.
Bennett is a member of the famed Rhode Island hockey family. “I consider the Bennett family probably THE hockey family of Rhode Island,” Buster Clegg was quoted by the RI Hockey Hall of Fame. Bennett’s father and his brothers were all hockey standouts. His son was a star at the University of Michigan and his two daughters were outstanding collegiate field hockey players.
Bennett started a number of highly successful environmental testing firms.
He was a candidate for general treasurer and for governor in Rhode Island — he lost to Don Carcieri in the 2002 GOP primary.
As economic development director under Angel Taveras, Bennett is credited with helping to bring JetBlue to then-T.F. Green Airport.