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The Partnership for Rhode Island has landed its next executive director.

Elizabeth Catucci, who spent six years as president and CEO of the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, will take the helm of the nonprofit business group, which includes many of the state’s top CEOs, starting in September.

Catucci succeeds founding executive director Tom Giordano, who stepped down in April to become vice president of external affairs at FM Global (whose CEO is a Partnership member).

“Liz Catucci has built a strong reputation across Rhode Island as an effective advocate and voice for business,” Brown University Health CEO and Partnership Board Chairman John Fernandez said. “Liz is the right leader for our organization as we look to be more highly involved in business attraction.”

The bigger picture: For the Partnership, it’s a savvy hire after an extensive search.

Catucci is one of the rare people within Rhode Island’s political and business circles who is widely respected and well-liked. As the state heads into what is certain to be a contentious election year, she has the ear of Governor Dan McKee, the trust of General Assembly leaders, and credibility with both small and large businesses statewide.

The Partnership has played a behind-the-scenes role in several major policy initiatives in Rhode Island in recent years – it funded the Johns Hopkins University study that led to the state takeover of Providence schools – and was the lead funder of CompeteRI, which has helped governments across Rhode Island secure more than $700 million in federal grants in recent years.

With federal funds drying up, the Partnership now wants to pivot to business development/recruitment in the state, which may include more advocacy at the State House than it has shown in the past. Catucci’s experience at the Chamber will be an asset.