Finance Services Veteran to Head Department of Economic Opportunity

Even Democrats should give him credit for this: When it comes to fostering economic development, the governor knows how to follow the money.

In an announcement Friday, Scott named a 30-year veteran of the banking sector, Hunting Deutsch, as executive director of Florida's Department of Economic Opportunity, effective April 16.

Most recently serving BankUnited Financial Services as executive vice president of wealth management (an awesome title if ever there was one), Deutsch was appointed to bring that financial experience to bear on business development in the Sunshine State, Scott stated in a news release.

I am committed to making Florida the No. 1 state in the nation for job creation, and fostering a climate that promotes economic development is key, Scott said. Hunting has a strong and experienced background and I am confident he will do a great job as the head of DEO. I welcome Hunting to our team.

Before working at BankUnited, Deutsch was the executive vice president of AmSouth Bank in Birmingham, Ala., from 2003 to 2006 and managing director at Citigroup Private Bank in Miami from 2001 to 2002. Deutsch also spent 20 years at SunTrust Banks Inc. in Orlando, serving in various management positions, including president and chief executive officer of private client and retirement services, and president and chief executive officer of trust and investment services.

DEO has streamlined Floridas economic and community development functions and plays an important role in strengthening Floridas work force, said Secretary of Commerce Gray Swoope. I am thrilled Hunting will be leading DEO and I know he will create a strong work environment that will ensure the agency continues to create opportunities for all Floridians to prosper.

Deutsch has been a member of the University of Miami Presidents Council and the Board of Governors of the Dade Community Foundation. He served on the University of Miami board of trustees from 2001 to 2005 and was president of the University of Miami Alumni Association from 2002 to 2003.He is also the former chairman of the Trust Management Association. Deutsch received a bachelors degree from the University of New Hampshire and a masters degree in business administration from the University of Miami.

I am honored Governor Scott chose me to lead DEO and I look forward to supporting Governor Scott and Gray Swoopes role in attracting new and expanding businesses to the Sunshine State, said Deutsch. Like Governor Scott, I understand that turning our unemployment system into a re-employment system is critical to developing the most skilled work force in the nation and I am committed to helping those who want a job find successful employment opportunities.