On Thursday, February 27, 2025, Governor Kevin Stitt announced the appointments of John Budd as Chief Executive Officer of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and Deborah Moorad as the state’s Secretary of Commerce.

“As Oklahoma continues to be one of the fastest-growing economies in the nation, I’m confident that John Budd and Deborah Moorad are the right leaders to keep our momentum going,” said Governor Stitt. “John’s experience in both the public and private sectors, combined with Deborah’s impressive track record of driving innovation and business growth, will ensure Oklahoma remains a top ten destination for businesses and entrepreneurs.”

Budd previously served as Oklahoma’s first-ever Chief Operating Officer from 2019 to 2021, where he oversaw the day-to-day operations of state government and implemented strategic reforms to improve efficiency. Prior to his role in state government, Budd was Chief Strategy Officer at Sonic Drive-In from 2013 to 2018. Most recently, he served as COO of the George Kaiser Family Foundation.

“Oklahoma is on the move, and I’m honored to step back into state service to economic growth and opportunity across the state,” said Budd. “Our mission is to ensure Oklahoma is the best place to live, work, and do business, and I look forward to working alongside Governor Stitt, Secretary Moorad, and the incredible team at the Department of Commerce to make that happen.”

Moorad brings years of experience in entrepreneurship, corporate leadership, and economic development. As the founding CEO and owner of Jax XII Holdings, she helps innovators and companies scale through technology. She is also an advisor at Cortado Ventures, an Oklahoma City-based venture capital firm, and a global commercialization consultant at the University of Texas at Austin. Previously, she led multiple biotech companies through transformative growth, serving as CEO of CorriXR Therapeutics and Nature Technology Corp. Under her leadership, NTC pioneered breakthrough gene therapy technologies, ultimately leading to its acquisition by Aldevron, a Danaher Company. She also played a pivotal role in post-merger operations for Dentsply Sirona following its $14.5 billion merger.

“As a business strategist, I know the work it takes to transform a bold idea into a successful venture - and I couldn’t be more excited to work with the Department of Commerce and Governor Stitt’s cabinet to give Oklahoma businesses the resources they need to compete,” said Moorad. “As secretary of commerce, I’m committed to making Oklahoma the very best state for businesses to launch, scale, and thrive.”

Budd and Moorad are subject to confirmation by the Oklahoma State Senate. John Budd's headshot is available here and Deborah Moorad's is available here.