Eccles new director of GOED

SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah Gov. Gary Herbert has appointed Spencer P. Eccles as the executive director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development.

Herbert said Eccles and Josh Romney, who will serve as the state's national business recruitment policy adviser, will be critical to his priority of providing residents with employment opportunities and creating economic stability.

Eccles has long been a figure in Utah's business scene, including managing the development of the Snow Basin venue for the 2002 Winter Games.

Romney is the son of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

Eccles succeeds Jason Perry, now Herbert's chief of staff.

Eccles is a native of Ogden and holds an MBA from BYU's Marriott School of Management, a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Utah, and was formerly affiliated with the Salt Lake City office of Wells Capital Management. He has most recently been involved with entrepreneurial technology companies.

Eccles also manages three ranching operations in Idaho and Wyoming and the Goldener Hirsch Inn in Deer Valley.

He has also served on a number of community boards, including advisory boards of the University of Utah's David Eccles School of Business and Tanner Humanities Center's World Leaders Lecture Forum, the Ogden Pioneer Heritage Foundation, and the Alf Engen Ski Museum.

He is president of the First Security Foundation and advises The George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation.

Romney is the founder of Romney Ventures, which was created in 2007 to pursue real estate acquisitions throughout the Intermountain West.