Governor Jay Nixon appointed David Kerr as Director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development on October 29, 2009.

In making the announcement, Gov. Nixon said "David Kerr has an impressive resume of success as both the leader of a state economic development agency and in the private sector as a top executive with one of the largest telecommunications companies in the country. His experience will be a great asset to Missouri in the competition to attract and retain the good-paying jobs that will make the best use of our highly skilled, trained workforce."

Mr. Kerr came to DED from the Kansas Department of Commerce, where he served as Secretary for more than two years following his appointment to the position in April 2007 by then-Governor Kathleen Sebelius. Mr. Kerr’s efforts resulted in job growth and investment from several major corporations, including Goodyear Tire, Spirit Aerospace, Black and Veatch and Cessna. He was also a board member of the Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation, Kansas Energy Council and Kansas Water Authority.

Prior to serving as Commerce Secretary, Kerr was president of AT&T Kansas for four years, where he directed all AT&T public policy efforts in the state, as well as directing the company’s regulatory activities with the Kansas Corporation Commission. He joined AT&T in 1979, working for more than 15 years in executive management positions in St. Louis for SBC/AT&T before moving to Dallas in 1997 to become vice president for access marketing for SBC.

A native of Ness City, Kansas, Kerr received bachelor’s degrees in economics and business administration from Avila University. He has served as a board member of the Jayhawk Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the United Way of Greater Topeka, the Topeka Performing Arts Center, and Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters. He also served as Chairman of the Board for the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, was the 2006 Chairman of the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce Board and served on the Advisory Board for Kansas State University’s College of Business.