Norton named new head of think tank

Steve Norton of Concord has been named the new executive director of the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies, succeeding Doug Hall, founding director of the think tank, who will assume the title of executive director emeritus.

Norton, who is currently the center’s deputy director, has been working in the New Hampshire public policy arena since 1998. As state Medicaid director, he focused on efforts to modernize the Medicaid program through the use of private sector best practices. Before to that, he directed the New Hampshire Office of Policy and Analysis and the Department of Health and Human Services’ efforts to use information in decision-making.

Hall, who has served as the center’s director for 10 years, plans to reduce his level of activity, and will be available to Norton to provide counsel and to work on policy topics as needed, but with a reduced workload and more flexible schedule. The transition in responsibility becomes effective July 10, the organization said.

“The center’s work is important to New Hampshire. Our primary objective in seeking Doug’s successor has been to assure that the Center will keep doing what we’ve been doing under Doug’s leadership,” said board chair Martin Gross. — JEFF FEINGOLD