Huntsman economic adviser Roybal to step down

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s senior economic development adviser, Chris Roybal, is stepping down to become president of a Utah-based company, the governor's office announced Monday.

Roybal was one of the first appointments made by Huntsman after his November 2004 election. As part of his campaign promise to focus on economic development, the governor brought what had been a separate state department into his office.

"Chris has done the state of Utah a tremendous service by dedicating his talent and energy to bolstering our approach to economic development in Utah," Huntsman said, calling Roybal "instrumental in institutionalizing" the new Governor's Office of Economic Development.

Roybal won't be replaced when he leaves the office by Feb. 2. He will be president and chief operating officer of Northwest Research Corp., whose 250 employees handle logistics work for major transportation-related companies.

"He was brought in temporarily by the governor to get his economic development package up and running," Huntsman spokesman Mike Mower said. "We feel a lot of that's been accomplished with the work that's going on."

That work includes establishing World Trade Center Utah to encourage foreign trade and getting legislation passed to create the Utah Science, Technology and Research (USTAR) initiative to advance technological developments at state universities.

Mower said the governor always intended that the senior economic development position would be a temporary one. "The intent was never to grow government with a permanent position," he said.

Roybal said it was time for him to start another phase of his career. He had been head of the Economic Development Corporation of Utah, which signed a contract with the state in 2005 to recruit new companies to Utah.

"It has been my privilege to serve Gov. Huntsman these past two years," Roybal said. "My assignment was one of transition. We now have key action officers in all functions of economic development including tourism, recruitment, energy, among others."

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