Hurlbutt named permanent leader of GRE

Greater Rochester Enterprise Inc. interim president and CEO Matt Hurlbutt has been named as the organization’s next president and CEO.

Hurlbutt has worked in the Rochester area for more than 25 years, and before taking on the role as interim president he served as executive vice president and chief operating officer for the economic development organization. He joined the organization in 2008 as managing director of business development, following a career at RochesterWorks Inc., where he served as executive director.

“Matt has the depth and breadth of experience critical to advancing GRE’s mission to attract new businesses and new capital investments to the Greater Rochester, N.Y. region,” said search committee chair and GRE vice chairman Joel Seligman, president of the University of Rochester. “With his strategic vision and proven track record of success, the committee is confident that Matt is the right person to lead GRE.”

Hurlbutt was named interim president and CEO in May when former President Mark Peterson announced he would leave the post the following month for a position as the president and chief executive of Intersect Illinois, a startup, nonprofit that serves as the lead business recruitment and marketing organization for Illinois.

“It is with great excitement that I accept my new role as president and CEO of Greater Rochester Enterprise, an organization I am truly passionate to serve,” Hurlbutt said in a statement. “I am honored to be selected for the position and am committed to our continued success in recruiting and retaining top-notch businesses in the Greater Rochester, N.Y. region.”

During his time as interim president and CEO, Hurlbutt led GRE’s joint bid for Amazon’s second headquarters. Hurlbutt also was instrumental in attracting OFD Foods LLC to the region. The freeze-dried food manufacturing company plans to build a 42,000-square-foot production facility in Henrietta to serve its East Coast and Midwest customers, creating some 30 jobs.

“It takes superior business acumen and economic development expertise to serve as a trusted adviser to company leaders looking to relocate or expand to our region,” said GRE chairman Anne Kress, Monroe Community College president. “Matt has a unique combination of deal making and strategic planning expertise. We are looking forward to his continued leadership of the organization.”

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