Haymore to lead economic development and government relations group at Hunton & Williams

Todd P. Haymore, Virginia’s secretary of commerce and trade under Gov. Terry McAuliffe, will join the law firm Hunton & Williams in March to lead its new Global Economic Development, Commerce and Government Relations Group.

Haymore, the group’s managing director, will be based in the firm’s Richmond office and will start on March 1.

“Given Todd’s leading role in facilitating economic development projects and international trade opportunities from positions in the private and public sectors, he has a deep understanding of the interface of business and government,” Wally Martinez, Hunton & Williams’managing partner, said in a statement. “His leadership of our new Global Economic Development, Commerce and Government Relations Group will help our clients navigate the numerous challenges they face as they execute their economic development and expansion strategies.”

The new group will draw 10 key practices in assisting clients in discussions with all levels of government, negotiation of economic incentive packages and execution of complex development strategies.

“The intersection of business, commerce and government has been the focus of my entire career in the private and public sectors, and it is exciting to use my knowledge and experience to help companies do business and move products in the global marketplace,” Haymore said in a statement.

Under McAuliffe, Haymore oversaw the state’s 13 commerce and trade agencies, including the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, and worked with the state’s executive branch, the General Assembly, private companies and other key stakeholders.

He also served as McAuliffe’s point person for the “new Virginia economy” diversification effort and led the state’s economic development team. Under his leadership, Virginia saw capital investment of nearly $20 billion from more than 1,000 economic development projects.

Haymore has spent more than a decade in public service in Virginia in several positions. McAuliffe, a Democrat, appointed him as the commerce and trade secretary in 2016.

Before that appointment, Haymore was secretary of agriculture and forestry under McAuliffe and his Republican predecessor, Gov. Bob McDonnell. Haymore also served as commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services under Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine.

Before his state government career, Haymore was an executive with Universal Leaf Tobacco Corp. and DIMON Inc., two of the world’s largest global leaf tobacco merchants.

He also was legislative assistant and press secretary to former U.S. Rep. L.F. Payne (D-Va.), and deputy campaign manager and communications director for Payne’s bid for lieutenant governor in 1997.

He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Richmond and a master’s in business administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Founded in Richmond, Hunton & Williams has more than 725 lawyers serving clients in the United States, Europe, Latin America and Asia.