RALEIGH –  Richard Lindenmuth will become the interim Chief Executive Officer of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. Lindenmuth has more than 30 years of general management experience in domestic and international business operations. His career, which includes serving as CEO for more than ten companies and corporate performance advisor to several others, has often involved organizations operating in high-growth and distressed environments.

“North Carolina is starting to see signs of economic recovery, and this new partnership will strengthen our state’s recruiting efforts and increase efficiency,” said Gov. Pat McCrory. “Richard Lindenmuth’s leadership and job expertise in business operations will play a critical role in directing this new organization.”

Lindenmuth was President of ITT’s Business and Consumer Communications Group in Raleigh, where he led 12,000 employees through rapid deregulation to record profitability and successful turnaround.

“Richard’s experience makes him an ideal candidate to lead the new partnership,” said  Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker. “He is known as a change agent and for successfully helping organizations through transition.  Richard will be instrumental in helping us increase customer focus, as well as speed and efficiency in all economic development initiatives.”

As interim CEO, Lindenmuth will be responsible for implementing the EDPNC transition as described in the planning document to the Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM).  The EDPNC will assume all sales and marketing functions of the N.C. Department of Commerce.  Secretary Decker is following the guidelines set out in Senate Bill 127 as it moves numerous Commerce divisions to the new organization.