Shelbyville City Councilman Brian Asher will be the new executive director of the Shelby County Development Corp.
Asher will replace Dan Theobald, who will retire at the end of the year. Asher is leaving his job as a senior account executive at Williams Industries and will begin working with Theobald in late October.
"I'm very excited about the new challenge, and to learn economic development under Dan Theobald will be a great advantage," Asher said.
"Brian is a tremendous fit and will do a good job," Theobald said. "He knows a lot of people already through his business ties and I will be working with him to ensure he is ready to go at the end of the year. I think he will do a fine job."
Asher has served on the city council for 10 years and will begin a new term in January.
"They parallel in a lot of ways; it's actually a natural fit," Asher said. "I'll be able to keep other councilmen and other government agencies informed about economic development."
Asher said he is looking forward to working with other officials in attracting new businesses, as well as maintaining and expanding existing businesses in Shelby County.
Asher and his wife, Lori, are Shelbyville natives and have four children: Bryce, 15; Luke, 13; Aidan, 10; and Sophia, 9. A graduate of Shelbyville High School, Asher earned a Bachelor of Science from Indiana University.
A press release announcing Asher's hire notes that he "has experience generating new business, satisfying companies from Fortune 500 to small distributors, negotiating contracts, working with existing businesses to help with tools for needed growth, managing day-to-day budgeting and economic development."
"Brian has knowledge of the area, trust of the local government and businesses, experience, skills, passion and a deep sense of commitment to lead SCDC into the future," SCDC Board President David Toll said.
Theobald announced his retirement plans earlier this year, citing a desire to spend more time with his grandchildren and confidence in the current administration to continue economic development.
"We've got a mayor now who cares about the community and is doing it for the future of the community. He has brought the county in with him to work as a team, not separate," Theobald said in March. "... He's doing it right, he's energetic. I've loved working for him, and I told him I would stick around for his first term, but not a second term."