Todd P. Haymore

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.

Relevant 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

Memberships

  • 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

Awards & Recognition

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

Insights