« The odds for 10 big projects | Main | ESDC Downstate Chairman Pat Foye resigns »
March 17, 2008
Breaking News - ESDC Downstate Chairman Pat Foye resigns
Daily News, ESDC Chair Resigns
Downstate ESDC Chairman Pat Foye tendered his resignation to Governor-to-be David Paterson yesterday, making him the first of outgoing Gov. Eliot Spitzer's agency/authority/corporation heads to step down.
Foye, a longtime personal friend and former legal colleague of Spitzer's, wrote in his resignation letter:
"Given the Governor’s resignation and my belief that you deserve to work with a team of your choosing, I have determined that it is timely for me to resign and return to the private sector. I will, of course, be available to spend as much time as needed to ensure a seamless transition."
Foye and Spitzer worked together at the law firm Skadden Arps, where Foye served as a merger and acquisitions partner from 1989 to 1998, and was also managing partner of the firm's Brussels, Budapest and Moscow offices from 1992 to 1994.
Before joining the Spitzer administration in January 2007, Foye was president and CEO of the United Way of Long Island. He also was a trustee of LIPA.
Spitzer appointed two people to run ESDC, Foye handled the downstate side while Dan Gundersen's focus was upstate. No word yet on Gundersen's plans.
Albany Times Union, Empire Development chief quits
ALBANY -- Patrick Foye, the co-chairman of Empire State Development Corp., is leaving his job.
In a letter dated Sunday, Foye, who came in with Gov. Eliot Spitzer and focused on downstate development, said it's time for him to return to the private sector. He ran the United Way of Long Island before joining the Spitzer administration. Foye told his staff he will leave at incoming governor David Paterson's convenience. The state's Urban Development board would choose his replacement.
Dan Gundersen, the co-chairman for upstate, isn't leaving. He picked up a $27,500 raise last summer, making him a higher-paid executive than Foye, although Foye seemed to have more to do with Spitzer than Gundersen.
Long Island Business News, Patrick Foye resigns
Patrick Foye, downstate chairman of the Empire State Development Corp., has resigned.
Foye ran the United Way of Long Island from 2004 to 2007 before he was selected by outgoing Gov. Eliot Spitzer for the ESDC post.
Foye had close ties with Spitzer and wife Silda, having worked with both at New York law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, where he was considered a mentor of sorts for Silda Wall Spitzer.
Foye was at that firm from 1989 to 1998.
Before helming the United Way of Long Island, Foye had been deputy chairman of the Long Island Power Authority.
"Given Governor Spitzer's resignation and my belief that you deserve to work with a team of your choosing, I have determined that it is timely for me to resign and return to the private sector," Foye said in a statement.
Spitzer resigned his post as governor, effective Monday, after it was discovered that he was involved in a prostitution ring.
At the ESDC, Foye was in charge of overseeing major New York development projects such as the proposed Moynihan Station and the Atlantic Yards plan, which includes a basketball arena that would house the New Jersey Nets.
David Paterson, who will be sworn in as governor Monday afternoon, will name Foye's replacement.
Posted by steve at March 17, 2008 12:07 PM