TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Governor Sam Brownback has named the CEO of an international business consulting firm as the next Kansas commerce secretary. Brownback's office announced Wednesday that he has selected Antonio Soave of Overland Park for the economic development job. Soave's appointment is subject to confirmation by the Kansas Senate. Soave is chairman and CEO of Capistrano Global Advisory Services. The company helps businesses with mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures and expanding their foreign markets. The Department of Commerce oversees the state's business development efforts. It has an annual budget of $113 million and about 250 employees. If confirmed, Soave will take over as secretary in December. Secretary Pat George resigned in July to become a nonprofit group's CEO. Brownback nominated Leawood businessman George Hansen for the post in August, but Hansen later withdrew.
The AP is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, as a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members, it can maintain its single-minded focus on newsgathering and its commitment to the highest standards of objective, accurate journalism.