WPRO News and the Associated Press

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) – New leadership is coming to the state’s economic development agency.

Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor on Thursday announced the appointment of Darin Early as chief operating officer of the Rhode Island Commerce Corp., while Daniel Jennings was named a senior economic development adviser at the agency.

Early and Jennings will work with Pryor to develop business in Rhode Island.

The corporation’s former executive director, Marcel Valois, is staying on as a senior economic development adviser.

Early has experience in commercial real estate investment and development. He previously worked with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.

Jennings most recently served as interim deputy mayor and director of economic and housing development for Newark, New Jersey.