Cardon to remain at Arizona Commerce’s helm

Gov. Jan Brewer is keeping the head of the state’s economic development program in place as it goes through a major reorganization.

Brewer announced Tuesday that Commerce Director Don Cardon will be the president and chief executive of the Arizona Commerce Authority under the reorganization she’ll ask lawmakers to approve for the current department in 2011.

Cardon is a former economic development official in Washington state and later worked on a major redevelopment project in downtown Phoenix. Brewer appointed him Commerce director in May 2009.

Brewer has appointed a panel of business leaders to provide private sector leadership for the new authority. She is its chairwoman.