From The Mississippi Link Newswire
JACKSON – Governor Phil Bryant has appointed Jim Barksdale to serve as interim executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority.
Barksdale brings extensive private sector experience to his new role as MDA executive director, having served as a top executive at well-known global businesses including Fed Ex, AT&T Wireless Services and Netscape. He was appointed chairman of the Mississippi Broadband Connect Coalition by former govenor Haley Barbour and also served as chairman of the Governor’s Commission on Recovery, Rebuilding and Renewal following Hurricane Katrina, playing a key role in developing the vision that helped rebuild the Coast.
He currently serves as chairman of the board and president of Barksdale Management Corp. and is active in philanthropic efforts, especially those promoting literacy and education in Mississippi.
A Jackson native, Barksdale is a graduate of Murrah High School in Jackson and the University of Mississippi.
Under his guidance, The Barksdale Foundation funded the Barksdale Reading Institute in 2000. More recently, Barksdale and his wife, Donna funded the Mississippi Principal Corps, a program designed to change the way school principals are trained.
Barksdale brings decades of management experience, a passion for his home state and a talent for strategic thinking to his new role at MDA.
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