Plano is shuffling its top ranks on the business front, naming Michael Talley as its new economic development director while veteran deal closer Doug McDonald steps up to a deputy city manager role. The move puts a seasoned regional recruiter in charge just as the city leans harder into landing corporate investment and breathing new life into aging office campuses.
The promotion and new hire were made public today, following a broader leadership shakeup that moved McDonald out of the director’s chair, Dallas Business Journal reported. The outlet noted that even in his new role, McDonald will continue to keep economic development under his umbrella.
From McKinney To Plano
Talley arrives in Plano from the McKinney Economic Development Corporation, where he served as senior vice president and helped shepherd a multibillion-dollar project pipeline, according to Community Impact. A city news release said Talley previously led economic development for Denton County and brings a network of regional relationships across Collin and Denton counties.
McDonald’s Promotion And Record
McDonald’s promotion to deputy city manager took effect Dec. 1, and he will continue to oversee economic development in that expanded role, Plano Magazine reported. The magazine credited him with securing 21 business projects in three years, which it said translated to about 7,200 jobs and roughly $722 million in capital investment, along with a refreshed strategy for older office campuses and workforce partnerships.
What The Hire Could Mean
City officials are framing Talley’s arrival as a way to keep Plano in the hunt for corporate headquarters and major expansions, and his resume fits that storyline. While leading economic development efforts in Denton County, Talley publicly stressed the importance of recruiting headquarters and higher wage jobs, Bisnow reported. That track record suggests Plano may lean even harder into aggressive corporate recruitment and large industrial or office deals…