Economic unit gets new chief

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott appointed a well-known statewide banking executive, Hunting Deutsch, to run the Department of Economic Opportunity.

Deutsch starts his new position today. He was previously the president of Miami Lakes-based BankUnited Financial Services. He's also held executive positions at AmSouth Bank and SunTrust Banks in Orlando, according to a press release. At SunTrust, Deutsch ran the private client services unit, among other tasks.

Deutsch replaces Doug Darling, who resigned as head of the Department of Economic Opportunity in January. The department, which the Legislature created last year, is the result of a move to make state government more efficient. The office is a combination of what was previously several departments, including parts of the Agency for Workforce Innovation, the Department of Community Affairs and the office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development. The Department of Economic Opportunity works with Enterprise Florida, which is a separate statewide economic development arm.