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The Portland Development Commission has chosen Kimberly Branam to be its executive director.

The move, not formally completed yet, is an in-house promotion for Branam, who has served as the economic development agency鈥檚 deputy director since 2011.

The PDC鈥檚 board will meet Monday in executive session to discuss contract terms, and is expected to then convene a regular session to direct staff to execute a contract with Branam.

No contract offer has been made or accepted, but the commission decided to announce the news Wednesday as word of the choice was leaked out.

In an email to PDC staff, Chairman Tom Kelly said, 鈥淚 firmly believe that Kimberly has the vision, commitment and skills to lead PDC into the future.鈥�

Branam was previously named a finalist, along with Odis Jones, chief executive of MVP Partners in Detroit and a former CEO of Detroit鈥檚 Public Lighting Authority; and Elissa Gertler, planning and development director for Metro and a former PDC economic development manager.

Commissioners weighed Branam鈥檚 and Gertler鈥檚 local knowledge and against Jones鈥� expertise in big real estate deals and executive experience.

Branam has deep institutional knowledge at the PDC and helped write its business plan. Before joining the PDC, she worked on economic development issues under then-Mayor Sam Adams. The PDC previously has promoted internal candidates, including Patrick Quinton, who worked at the agency for three years before he was named executive director in 2011.

Quinton announced in February that he would step down, setting off a search for his successor. June 8 was his last day. Faye Brown, the PDC鈥檚 chief financial officer, has filled in as interim director.

Branam is a third-generation Portlander. She graduated from Grant High School before earning a master鈥檚 degree in public policy from Harvard University鈥檚 Kennedy School of Government.