DECD Appointment Another Win for the Environment

Governor Dannel Malloy is making good on his December 2010 declaration to environmental advocates when he said, “Your issues are my issues.”   On the heels of appointing energy and environment expert Dan Esty as Commissioner of Environmental Protection, today Malloy appointed another commissioner with strong ties to the environmental field:  Catherine Smith, now CEO of ING US Retirement Services, is on the Board of Directors for Connecticut Fund for the Environment, Trust for Public Land, and Outward Bound USA.

Excerpts from the Governor’s press release:

(HARTFORD, CT) – In one of his highest profile appointments to date, Governor Dannel P. Malloy today named ING executive Catherine Smith to lead the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD). Smith, who lives in Northford, has worked for ING for the past 10 years; prior to that, she worked at Aetna for 17 years.

…  Smith is currently the Chief Executive Officer of ING U.S. Retirement Services, a position she’s held since 2008. In this capacity, Smith helped ING weather the recession and retain customers, while helping them to navigate the economic storm. Smith managed 3,000 employees and had oversight of sales, marketing, operations, customer service, product development, risk management and finance.

…  Smith graduated from Hampshire College and received her Masters in Public and Private Management from Yale University. She is on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Fund for the Environment, Trust for Public Land, and Outward Bound USA. She has been recognized by the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame.