Holcomb taps David Rosenberg to lead state’s economic development agency

David Rosenberg

Gov. Eric Holcomb on Tuesday announced David Rosenberg as the next CEO of the Indiana Economic Development Corp., promoting the state agency’s chief operating officer to the top job.

As the new Indiana secretary of commerce, Rosenberg will succeed Brad Chambers, who stepped down from the post after his two-year contract expired Aug. 6. Chambers has said he is considering running for governor.

Ann Lathrop, IEDC’s chief strategy officer, will continue to lead the agency’s integrated business development strategy while assuming more of the agency’s strategy-focused responsibilities, the IEDC said in a press release. Lathrop will also join Rosenberg on Gov. Holcomb’s cabinet.

“David has been instrumental in guiding the IEDC team over the last two years, and I am confident in his ability to continue to lead the strong team and Indiana’s extraordinary economic momentum,” Gov. Holcomb said in written remarks. “Under Ann’s leadership of the IEDC’s business development team, Indiana has pivoted its focus to attracting the economy of the future. I am thrilled to have both David and Ann join my cabinet, and I know their leadership will help solidify more wins that will provide opportunities to Hoosiers for decades to come.”

Rosenberg, 37, will oversee a quasi-government entity that received an additional $1.2 billion in the most recent state budget to aggressively pursue economic development projects.

In Boone County, the IEDC has about 9,000 acres of land under contract for the LEAP Lebanon Innovation and Research District, a planned advanced manufacturing and high-tech hub that could serve as a blueprint for additional commercial and industrial parks across the state. LEAP is an acronym for “Limitless Exploration/Advanced Pace.”

Rosenberg has said that numerous companies are considering significant investments in the advanced manufacturing and tech hub, including a potential $50 billion semiconductor plant and a $3.2 billion data center. Eli Lilly and Co. will be the anchor tenant for the district, investing $3.7 billion in a new drug manufacturing site.

“Now that people know that there is a mega-site, shovel-ready development that’s going on—that has the zoning, the utilities, the infrastructure—I think it’s only going to continue to garner interest,” Rosenberg told IBJ in June.

The IEDC has landed big deals through hefty incentives over the years, including up to $186 million for auto maker Stellantis and renewable battery company Samsung SDI to build a $2.5 billion electric-vehicle battery plant in Kokomo and $163 million, including land, for Elanco Animal Health’s new headquarters on the west side of downtown Indianapolis.

Rosenberg was one of Chambers’ first hires for his leadership team when he took office in 2021.

Prior to joining the IEDC, Rosenberg was vice president of operations for Indianapolis-based Market Street Group, Inc., a lobbying and consulting firm. He also served as operations officer for Indianapolis Public Schools.

In 2015, he was named to IBJ’s Forty Under 40 for helping to lead efforts to build a new criminal justice center as deputy chief of staff and director of enterprise development for former Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard.

“I’m incredibly humbled and grateful to Gov. Holcomb for the opportunity to lead the IEDC and serve Hoosiers as Indiana’s next secretary of commerce,” Rosenberg said in written remarks. “Over the last two years, we’ve executed against a strategic vision that enables businesses and talent to be successful in Indiana while setting new committed capital investment records and unprecedented investments in communities throughout the state. Our focus on the economy of the future will impact generations as we ensure Indiana continues competing to win.”

Rosenberg also serves as a board member for the Boy Scouts of America’s Crossroads of America Council, Visit Indy and KIPP Indy Public Schools. He and his wife, Ali, reside in Zionsville with their children, Will and Lily.

Lathrop joined the IEDC in November 2021. She began her career as an auditor for Indianapolis-based consulting firm KPMG and went on to serve as deputy mayor for the city of Indianapolis before transitioning to city controller. Most recently, she served as the first chief marketing officer for accounting firm Crowe LLP.