Just one day after Chris Hart pulled the rip cord and bailed from his leadership post at Enterprise Florida, the EFI board has appointed Executive Vice-President Mike Grissom to fill the role.

As interim CEO, the job won’t be easy, especially in the short run, as Grissom’s primary objective is to find a way to ensure the state continues to invest in the public-private partnership to lure businesses to Florida.

Battle lines have been drawn, with the House looking to zero out EFI’s budget, and the Governor advocating to keep the organization well-funded so that Florida can compete against other states who also offer incentives to business to entice them to relocate.

But Grissom may be the perfect pick for the job in the wake of Hart’s sudden exit. The former Executive Director of the Republican Party of Florida, Grissom has forged solid relationships with many of the Republican lawmakers who now control the fate of his organization. He’s also served as a consultant and advisor to a number of prominent political figures, from Governor Rick Scott and other cabinet members to lesser-known candidates across the state.

After leaving RPOF, he also worked for the Florida Chamber before joining EFI about two years, so he knows the organization inside and out.