Oklahoma – Governor Kevin Stitt recently announced the appointments of John Budd as Chief Executive Officer of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and Deborah Moorad as the state’s new Secretary of Commerce. The governor expressed confidence that these appointments would further Oklahoma’s growth as one of the fastest-growing economies in the nation.
Governor Stitt highlighted Budd’s extensive experience in both the public and private sectors, along with Moorad’s proven track record in driving innovation and business growth. He believes their leadership will continue to propel Oklahoma as a top destination for businesses and entrepreneurs.
Budd, who previously served as Oklahoma’s first-ever Chief Operating Officer from 2019 to 2021, brings with him a wealth of expertise in government operations. During his tenure, he implemented strategic reforms aimed at improving efficiency across state government. Prior to his time in state government, Budd worked as Chief Strategy Officer at Sonic Drive-In from 2013 to 2018. More recently, he served as COO of the George Kaiser Family Foundation. Budd expressed his eagerness to contribute to Oklahoma’s economic growth and noted the importance of ensuring the state remains the best place to live, work, and do business.
Moorad joins the Oklahoma Department of Commerce with a wealth of experience in entrepreneurship, corporate leadership, and economic development. As the founding CEO and owner of Jax XII Holdings, she has been instrumental in helping innovators and companies scale through technology. Moorad also serves as an advisor at Cortado Ventures, a venture capital firm based in Oklahoma City, and as a global commercialization consultant at the University of Texas at Austin. Her leadership experience spans multiple biotech companies, where she guided transformative growth. Notably, she served as CEO of CorriXR Therapeutics and Nature Technology Corp. Under her leadership, NTC developed groundbreaking gene therapy technologies, ultimately leading to its acquisition by Aldevron, a Danaher Company. Moorad was also involved in post-merger operations for Dentsply Sirona following its $14.5 billion merger.
Both Budd and Moorad are set to play pivotal roles in continuing Oklahoma’s progress and fostering a robust economic environment in the state.
