Game & Fish Selects New Director

Interim director Loren Hitchcock will be the new permanent director of the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

Commission members had narrowed their search to four candidates before recommending Hitchcock, who helped negotiate the agency’s multi-million dollar gas drilling agreement with natural gas companies in the Fayetteville Shale play.

A formal vote to approve Hitchcock by the full commission is expected to take place tomorrow.

"After the interviews this week, it became clear that Interim Director Loren Hitchcock is the ideal candidate to take the reins of this agency and move it forward," Commission Chairman Craig Campbell said. "It is our pleasure to nominate Loren as director," he added.

"He’s a good fit for this organization. Hitchcock’s experience with the agency and his vision for the future will serve the agency well," Campbell added.

Hitchcock will replace Scott Henderson who stepped down Sept. 1, 2010, to take another position within the agency.