Waldrop Named to Lead Mississippi Development Authority
Governor Tate Reeves named PJ Waldrop executive director as Bill Cork retires from the state agency.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in People
Mississippi Development Authority executive director Bill Cork has retired from state service, and Governor Tate Reeves named PJ Waldrop to succeed him effective October 1. Reeves announced Cork's retirement on a Wednesday morning.
Why it matters
The change puts the agency's top job in the hands of its current chief operating officer, who oversees its divisions and budget. The agency under Cork recruited more than $34 billion in investment to Mississippi, and continuity in its leadership shapes how future economic development deals are pursued.
During Cork's tenure, the agency recruited more than $34 billion in investment and helped create nearly 23,000 jobs. Deals negotiated under his leadership include $10 billion each from Amazon Data Services and Compass Data Centers, and $2.5 billion from Aluminum Dynamics.
The players
Tate Reeves
Tate Reeves is the Governor of Mississippi, who appoints the executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority.
Mississippi Development Authority
The Mississippi Development Authority is the state agency responsible for economic development, business recruitment and job creation across Mississippi.
PJ Waldrop
PJ Waldrop is a Mississippi official who previously served as the first director of the Governor's Office of Military Affairs and as a Senate staffer in Washington, D.C.
The details
Cork was appointed in December 2023 and led the agency through several major investment announcements. Waldrop, the current deputy executive director and chief operating officer, previously served as the first director of the Governor's Office of Military Affairs at the agency and led its first significant organizational restructuring in a decade.
Timeline
December 2023: Reeves appoints Cork as executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority.
November 10, 2026: Reeves announces Cork's retirement on a Wednesday morning.
October 1: Waldrop's appointment as executive director takes effect.
Roadmap
The Mississippi Development Authority's recent pursuit of large data center and aluminum manufacturing projects, including the Amazon Data Services and Compass Data Centers commitments, is the backdrop for this transition. Waldrop inherits a pipeline built around those large-scale industrial investments.
For residents, the change affects who leads the state's economic development agency and the investment deals it pursues. Current job and investment programs are not described as changing in the extraction.
The takeaway
Leadership transitions at state economic development agencies can shape which investments and jobs follow, and the continuity of Waldrop's internal experience will be one measure of that transition.
What happens next
Waldrop's appointment as executive director takes effect October 1.
Further reading
Explore more Mississippi people coverage for context on state leadership appointments.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Delta Democrat-Times.
