When the Golden Triangle Development LINK parted ways with Joe Max Higgins – the only CEO the organization had ever had – it is fair to say the LINK Board wasn’t looking for another Higgins.

Nine days into his role as LINK CEO, it is already evident that Iain Vasey is a different kind of leader with a different tone who will present a different public image from that of the gregarious, flesh-pressing, room-working, often off-color Higgins.

We say all this while acknowledging Higgins’ unquestionable success in leading economic development efforts over the past 22 years. His record speaks for itself, as do the regrettable circumstances that led to his abrupt departure.

To get a better sense of what Vasey is about, we encourage you to listen to the latest episode of The Dispatch’s podcast, “Between the Headlines,” which includes an in-depth hour-long conversation with the man who is tasked with building on the area’s successes.

Vasey has a track record of securing high-value industrial and technology projects, totaling nearly $60 billion in capital investment throughout his career with stops in Texas, Oregon and Louisiana, securing capital projects that include ExxonMobil, Tesla, the U.S. Air Force and even Steel Dynamics, which has established an enormous footprint here.

Leaders have their own styles. For Higgins, it was always showtime. His public appearances promoted and teased deals that had not been completed and, in some cases, hadn’t even been started. He appealed to the imagination of his audience, providing colorful “code names” for the companies and deals he pursued. The nuts and bolts research and data set the stage for his larger than life performances.

Based on the interview, you’ll get none of that from Vasey. He’ll not tip his hand on negotiations in progress. No code names, no grand pronouncement. In a word, he is circumspect.

He’ll be in charge but not in the spotlight. (A trade publication called him a “Silent Assassin.”)

Vasey projects the image of a confident, incredibly well-informed, thoroughly professional recruiter and negotiator.

He takes a “Moneyball” approach to the job, using analytics to target high-probability economic wins, focusing on data engineering and financial assessments. The data is the star of his show.

Vasey also believes in a shared vision, where the local government identifies what they want. It’s his job to turn that into a reality.

His arrival signals a new chapter for the LINK, one based on supporting existing industries while aggressively recruiting new business in emerging fields.

In his own way, Vasey is every bit as dynamic as his predecessor. He comes across as smart, informed and assertive.

Based on all that, we believe the LINK is in very good hands.

The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.