Governor names new head for Department of Commerce

Machelle Sanders, who has been Cooper's secretary for administration, will move to the job-recruiting agency.

Posted 10:53 p.m. Feb 12, 2021 — Updated 9:42 p.m. Feb 15, 2021

Travis Fain

, WRAL statehouse reporter

RALEIGH, N.C. — Gov. Roy Cooper turned to his own cabinet to fill a hole at the state's job recruitment department Friday, naming Department of Administration Secretary Machelle Sanders his new secretary of commerce.

She is the first African American to hold the post, according to the Department of Commerce.

Sanders replaces Tony Copeland, who stepped down at the end of January. A native of Belhaven, Sanders has a background in the biotech industry, a degree in biochemistry and a master's degree in health administration.

"Her strong background as a business leader and her extensive knowledge of what it takes to build a globally competitive workforce will serve North Carolina well as we attract better-paying jobs, help small businesses and stimulate our innovation and entrepreneurial economy," Cooper said in a news release announcing the move.

Sanders said in the release that her top priority will be "to marry innovation and strong leadership to create promising conditions for economic recovery and opportunity."

"Expanding workforce development initiatives is essential," she said in the release. "Collaboration with economic development partners, community stakeholders, higher education networks and affinity groups will help to transform the enormous economic possibilities for rural areas and groups marginalized from enjoying in the promise of economic growth and prosperity."

Sanders headed the Department of Administration, which manages contracts and other day-to-day logistics for state government, during Cooper's first term. Before that, she was vice president of marketing and general manager of Biogen's largest manufacturing facility in Research Triangle Park.

Cooper's cabinet has had some turnover as he starts his second term, and this is the second time he's looked to one agency to fill a top role at another. He moved Eric Boyette last year from the head job at the state Department of Information Technology to the secretary's position at the Department of Transportation.

With the Department of Commerce job filled, Cooper still needs to name permanent secretaries at the Department of Environmental Quality, which Secretary Michael Regan left to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Information Technology and now the Department of Administration, where Deputy Secretary Mark Edwards will serve as interim secretary for now.

The legislature confirmed Cooper's new pick to head the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Reid Wilson, earlier this week. His nominee for secretary of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Walter Gaskin, is awaiting a confirmation hearing.

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