Cork named President and CEO of Texas Economic Development Council

• The former head of the Mississippi Development Authority retired from state service at the end of September.

Bill Cork retired from state service as executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority at the end of September. Now, he is back on the job, this time in Texas.

The Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) announced Tuesday that its Board of Directors has appointed Cork as the organization’s next President and CEO, effective November 1, 2026.

Cork is succeeding Carlton Schwab, who will retire after serving as TEDC’s President and CEO since February 1, 1999.

Adrian Cannady, immediate past board chair of the TEDC, said Cork “brings the experience, competitiveness, and strategic perspective to help the TEDC expand its value to members and prepare our profession for the opportunities ahead.”

Cork was selected to lead the nation’s largest state association of economic development professionals after a national search.

“Our profession is entering a period of rapid change, and the TEDC has a responsibility to prepare the next generation of leaders,” said Misty Mayo, Board Chair of the TEDC. “Bill’s experience and vision position us to strengthen our talent pipeline, elevate our impact, and chart a bold path forward for economic development across Texas.”

Cork said Texas has always led by thinking bigger, moving faster, and preparing for what is next.

“I am honored to join the TEDC and to serve the professionals and communities that make this state competitive,” Cork said. “My priority will be to listen to members, build on the organization’s strong foundation, and work with the Board and staff to deliver practical value at every stage of an economic developer’s career.”

Cork was appointed by Governor Tate Reeves in December 2023 to lead the Mississippi economic development agency following his time as deputy director. During his tenure, MDA recruited over $34 billion in investments to the Magnolia State along with the creation of nearly 23,000 jobs. He led more than 170 team members and a $400 million annual budget across the state’s principal economic development, trade, tourism, business‑services, incentives, disaster‑recovery, and energy functions.

Among the deals negotiated under Cork’s leadership are Amazon Data Services ($10 billion), Compass Data Centers ($10 billion), and Aluminum Dynamics ($2.5 billion).