BANGOR – Eastern Maine Development Corp. has appointed its new president and CEO, Charles E. Webb of Orchard Park, N.Y.

Webb, 64, has a long career in economic development on local, state and international levels. In his new role, Webb will be responsible for the overall operations of EMDC and its efforts to improve the economic vitality of Penobscot, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, Waldo and Knox counties.

Established 40 years ago, EMDC is a nonprofit organization that provides resources and assistance to businesses and community leaders, according to its Web site. It has a staff of 50 and partners with state and national agencies.

EMDC’s board of directors made the announcement on Monday after it approved the unanimous decision of the EMDC search committee on Thursday. The committee reviewed 28 applications from 12 different states.

“Charlie Webb has strong leadership and management skills with many years of economic development experience around the United States,” said Ralph Harvey, chairman of the EMDC board of directors, in a prepared statement. “We are confident in his ability to support EMDC’s mission of leading Eastern Maine communities to a strong economic future.”

When asked why EMDC did not fill the position with a Maine native, Gene Conlogue, a member of the board and the search committee, said Monday, “We always hope for that deep down, but the reality was this was a national search … We conducted a national search purposely to find the most highly qualified candidate. We were not constrained by geography, and it happens that the gentleman we decided to hire is from New York.”

Webb replaces Jonathan Daniels, who left EMDC in June to become director of the Port of Oswego, N.Y.

Though he has never lived in Maine, Webb said he is keenly aware of the need to attract fast-growing businesses and young, educated workers to the area EMDC serves.

“I’ve always been in organizations where there has been an element of economic challenge,” Webb said Monday. In central Maine, Webb said he sees “the untapped potential of encouraging growth, quality growth, in an area that will benefit from it and where the need is significant for job creation and retention.”

Webb has most recently been a partner in Profile Associates, providing economic development consulting services to large and small businesses, nonprofit organizations and state and local government.

A graduate of Florida State University with bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Webb began his career in the Florida Department of Commerce as a manager in its New Industry Bureau. He moved on to executive positions with the chambers of commerce of Greater Cincinnati, Ohio; Greater Des Moines, Iowa; Winston-Salem, N.C.; and the Greater Cleveland, Ohio, Growth Association. He has served as president and CEO of the Erie County, N.Y., Industrial Development Agency.

Webb is a member of the board of directors of the International Economic Development Corp. in Washington, D.C. He will be formally introduced during the annual meeting of EMDC’s corporate membership on Oct. 17 at the Richard Dyke Center for Family Business, Husson College. He and his wife, Phyllis, are planning their move, and Webb will begin his new duties at EMDC on Oct. 24.