The Charlotte Regional Business Alliance has hired Robert McCutcheon, a former executive in the outdoor power equipment industry, as its next president and CEO. He will assume his role Monday. Why it matters: McCutcheon is expected to leverage his decades of leadership to strengthen an organization that drives economic investment and advocates for the business community's priorities,

McCutcheon succeeds Andrea Smith, who was hired as interim CEO in May. The position was left vacant in April when Janet LaBar, the alliance’s first CEO after the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce and the Charlotte Regional Partnership merged, resigned unexpectedly after a five-year tenure.

The Charlotte Regional Business Alliance has hired former Husqvarna Group North America executive Robert McCutcheon as its new CEO. McCutcheon will start his new job next week.