Darryl Isherwood will return to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority after being on a mobility assignment in Gov. Phil Murphy’s office since February 2019.
Isherwood, who had been Murphy’s communications advisor on economic issues, will now serve as senior advisor for economic development communication and sector lead for film and digital television. This is a new position at the EDA.
While on Murphy’s staff, Isherwood had been the lead spokesperson on a task force named by the governor to investigate tax incentives awarded by the EDA during the administration of Gov. Chris Christie. The task force released scathing reports about allegedly-faulty applications that led to tax incentives worth millions of dollars to firms with ties to numerous companies, including one with ties to South Jersey powerbroker George Norcross.
Over time, Murphy dropped the issue and became the first Democratic governor in 44 years to win re-election.
In a massive rejection of the task force report, Superior Court Judge Robert Lougy this week ordered the EDA to pay $26 million to Holtec International, ruling that they were entitled to tax credits.
Lougy said Holtec “did not breach an express term of the contract and the record does not show an ill motive.”
Prior to joining Murphy’s staff, Isherwood had worked at Mercury Public Affairs, as editor of PolitickerNJ, and as a reporter for the Star-Ledger and Trenton Times. He is the son of the late Livingston Deputy Mayor James Isherwood.
The new EDA post will help manage relationships with large and high-growth businesses in the film and television industries, a priority of the Murphy administration.
This story was updated at 2:58 PM.
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