June 13, 2002 — James Wood, Senior Economist at the Bureau of Economic and Business Research (BEBR), will serve as the Interim Director of the office at the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah. Wood was appointed to this position this week, following the death of R. Thayne Robson, long-time Director of BEBR in May. Wood will serve as Interim Director throughout a nationwide search, set to begin in September. He estimates the search may take up to a year. Following the appointment of a new Director, Wood will serve as Associate Director of BEBR.

“The Bureau is the most important source of independent economic analysis in the state, and the Director is a key advisor to the governor, legislature, and business community,” said Jack Brittain, Dean of the David Eccles School of Business. “Jim Wood is one of the most respected economists in Utah, both for his analytic insights and his integrity. It is impossible to replace Thayne Robson, but in Jim Wood we have an individual who honors Thayne’s legacy of honest opinions based on thorough analysis.”

“I’m honored to be appointed Associate Director,” said Wood. “The Bureau has nearly 70 years of service to the public and private sectors in Utah. My goal is to add to what we have done, and to continue our tradition of objective analysis of trends and changes in the Utah economy.”

Wood has worked at the Bureau for more than 29 years, and his expertise includes the housing and real estate markets. He is a member of the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors and of the Revenue Assumptions Committee for the State of Utah. Wood is the author of more than 80 research studies for statewide offices, most recently of “Economic Change in Salt Lake City’s Central Business District, 1990 to 2001” for The Downtown Alliance of Salt Lake City this year.

The David Eccles School of Business offers degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate and Ph.D. level. The school has more than 3,000 students, and is one of only 400 schools worldwide accredited by the AACSB.