Gov. Nikki Haley today announced Hartley Powell as the next director of the South Carolina Department of Revenue. Powell, who served in South Carolina state government for 10 years before taking a position in the private sector, has most recently been principal of the accounting and professional service firm KPMG since 2007.
"Any time you have director who has done a phenomenal job, you hate to see them go, but it’s exciting when you can see an agency evolve,” Haley said. "Hartley’s experience is everything, and when we change directors, we try to take it to a whole new level. We have done a great job focusing on the state as a whole – and Hartley will be part of that, as we go in and assist the counties in any way that we can from an economic development standpoint."
Prior to joining KPMG in June 2001 as senior manager in the state and local tax practice, Powell served at the South Carolina Department of Commerce as international project manager, director of the agency’s European Office, and as chief of staff.
"I am deeply humbled to accept the position of director of the South Carolina Department of Revenue," Powell said. "During my career at KPMG, I had the opportunity to work with many different Departments of Revenue, and what I can say with a lot of confidence is that South Carolina’s department is one of the best, if not the best, in the country. I will work to build on the successes the agency has experienced under Director Reames’ leadership and I’m excited to have an opportunity to work with him on a seamless transition."
"The successes we’ve seen are in large part due to Governor Haley’s leadership and it’s due to the public servants that we have at the department," said former Director Rick Reames. "I appreciate everything they have done in working with South Carolina business and taxpayers to make the agency and our state better. I am thrilled that Hartley is here and is going to continue to build upon our success. We recruited him for that sole purpose and we are excited to have him in the saddle."
Powell, 60, is married with two children.
