NEW YORK CITY-Robert DiChiara is moving up the ranks at the World Trade Center Association. The former vice president of business development–who joined the not-for-profit, non-political organization in 1997–has now been named EVP of the WTCA.

In his new post, DiChiara will continue seeking new business opportunities for the 300-member association, which services more than 750,000 businesses in 91 countries. He will also carry on his efforts to enroll business and government officials in programs geared towards improving their local and national economies. For example, DiChiara recently met in South Korea with former ROK President Kim Dae-Jung and Hoi Change Lee. He also oversaw the opening of the World Trade Center in Hengdian, China.

Since joining the WTCA, he is credited with administrating the restoration of New York City's twin towers following the 1993 bombing and was a driving force behind an analytical study on the value of World Trade Centers as real estate investments. Prior to joining the association, he worked at various levels for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, beginning in 1963.