Todd Haymore

Overview

Todd heads the firm’s global economic development, commerce and government relations group. Having worked at the intersection of business and government in various public- and private-sector leadership positions, Todd is deft at providing strategic advice and guiding companies through the most vexing challenges relating to business expansion or relocation within Virginia, throughout the United States and abroad.

As Virginia’s Secretary of Commerce and Trade and Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry under Governors Terry McAuliffe and Bob McDonnell, and Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services under Governor Tim Kaine, Todd gained invaluable insights into the inner workings of government, building relationships across party lines to promote Virginia businesses here and abroad as well as attracting foreign business investments to Virginia. He worked closely with private-sector companies, regional entities and local, state and federal government officials to grow exports from Virginia and implement economic development strategies, including the creation of new and highly impactful economic development incentive programs. He was instrumental in leading Governor McAuliffe’s “New Virginia Economy” diversification effort that saw record-breaking capital investment of more than $20 billion from more than 1,100 economic development projects injected into Virginia’s economy. Todd is also a veteran of more than 50 national and international gubernatorial trade and marketing missions.

Under Governor McAuliffe, Todd served as Virginia’s chief economic and workforce development officer, overseeing the state’s 13 commerce and trade agencies, including the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the state’s lead agency for corporate recruitment, business expansion and export generation. He also served as Governor McAuliffe’s point person for the legislative effort to reform and re-structure the VEDP and the hiring of VEDP’s new leadership team. During his two secretariat leadership posts, Todd also served as an ex-officio board member to a number of economic and workforce development-focused organizations, including VEDP, the Virginia Tourism Corporation, the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, the Virginia Board of Workforce Development and the Virginia Biotechnology Research Partnership Authority.

Prior to his stints in state government, Todd held several leadership positions in the private sector, including serving as head of external affairs and corporate communications for two Fortune Global 1000 companies and lead project manager on several greenfield and expansion projects. He also assisted the companies’ global sales teams on facilitating export growth and dealing with barriers of entry in certain countries. Equally accomplished in corporate philanthropy, Todd also previously worked as a foundation vice president, devising and executing strategies to improve the business’s philanthropic efforts within the community. In addition, Todd served as key legislative and communications advisor to former US Congressman L. F. Payne.

Todd has been recognized for work in economic development and trade by various business advocacy associations, including the Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce, the Virginia Maritime Association, the Virginia International Business Council, the Virginia Agribusiness Council, the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, the Virginia Wineries Association and the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association.

Experience

Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade, 2016–2018
Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, 2010–2016
Commissioner, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 2007–2010
Corporate Director, External Affairs, Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, 1999–2007
Director of Corporate Communications, DIMON Incorporated, 1998–1999
Communications Director and Legislative Assistant, US Representative L. F. Payne, 1991–1997

Accolades

Honors & Recognitions

Recognized in “The Power List” as one of Virginia’s 500 “Most Powerful Leaders,” Virginia Business, 2020-2023

Affiliations

Professional

Elected, Vice Chairman, Go Virginia Region 4 Council
Member, Washington Airports Task Force Board of Directors
Member, Board of Visitors, Virginia Commonwealth University
Member, Board of Directors, Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Member, Board of Directors, RVA757 Connects
Member, Board of Directors, Virginia FREE
Past Member, Board of Directors, Danville Area Chamber of Commerce
Past Member, National Public Affairs Steering Committee, National Association of Manufacturers
Past Member, Executive Council, Leaf Tobacco Exporters Association
Past Member and President, Board of Governors, Tobacco Association of the United States
Past Member, Board of Directors, Foundation for the Elimination of Child Labor in Tobacco
Past Member, Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Cotton, Peanuts, Planting Seeds and Tobacco, United States Department of Agriculture
Past Member, Board of Directors, The Richmond Forum

Insights

Events & Speaking Engagements

December 2020
Event
Speaker
Post-Election update on the Economy and Regulatory Affairs, Marsh & McLennan Client Council
September 30, 2020
Event
Presenter
Virginia’s Political Landscape and its Impact on the Future of Economic Development, Virginia General Counsel and Chief Risk Roundtable
September 24, 2020
Event
Guest Lecturer
Trade and Economic Globalization: Virginia’s Role in Both and their Impact on the Commonwealth, University of Richmond
May 20, 2020
Event
Panelist
Re-imagining the Future of Work in a COVID-19 World, Greater Richmond Partnership webinar
May 20, 2020
Event
Panelist
Economic & Business Impacts from COVID-19, Southern Virginia Regional Alliance and the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research webinar
February 5, 2020
Event
Speaker
Southern Virginia Regional Alliance International Trade Forum, Advanced Learning & Research, Virginia Maritime Association
December 17, 2019
Event
Keynote Speaker
Changing of the Guard: Virginia State Government Under Democratic Party Control - What to Expect in the 2020 General Assembly and Beyond, Micron Technology’s quarterly political action committee meeting, Manassas, VA
December 4 and 11, 2019
Event
Keynote Speaker
The Importance of Ethics and Integrity in Public Service, Farm Credit of the Virginias regional management retreats, Weyers Cave, VA
October 2, 2019
Event
Keynote Speaker
Trade & Globalization: Virginia’s Role in Both and Their Impact on the Commonwealth, Virginia Maritime Association’s Southern Virginia Chapter’s Forum on the International Supply Chain
October 1, 2019
Event
Guest Lecturer
The Pros and Cons of Globalization, The University of Richmond Department of Political Science
April 10, 2019
Event
Guest lecturer
Leadership in the Private and Public Sectors, University of Richmond School of Business undergraduate Management Entrepreneurship & Management Consulting classes
April 2, 2019
Event
Guest Lecturer
Trade & Globalization: Virginia’s Role in Both and Their Impact on the Commonwealth, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business Executive Masters of Business Administration Program