AST Chief Qureshey Will Head Alliance on Business Climate

Safi Qureshey, chief executive of computer maker AST Research Inc., Tuesday was appointed chairman of a statewide alliance of education and business leaders who want to make the state more competitive.

Qureshey heads the California Business-Higher Education Forum, a nonprofit group including 60 CEOs of major companies who will lobby the state government to make California more attractive to businesses and improve overall education.

On the group’s agenda: establishing clear goals for California’s future, improving state government performance and accountability, strengthening local government within the state, improving the equity and efficiency of California’s tax base, and continuing the state’s regulatory reform.

He replaces University of California President Jack Peltason, who served as chairman since the group’s founding in 1992. Peltason will remain on the group’s board.