BankBoston executive Ira A. Jackson '70, will return to Harvard this summer, serving as the new director of the Center for Business and Government (CBG) at the Kennedy School of Government, officials announced Monday.

Jackson will replace IBM Professor of Business and Government Roger B. Porter, who has held the post for four years.

Jackson is not new to KSG--he served as an associate dean from 1976 to 1983.

"I'm thrilled to return to Harvard in a challenging new role which will draw upon my careers in both the public and private sectors," Jackson said.

Since its inception in 1982, the CBG has conducted research on a number of international, domestic, and institutional issues related to both business and government.

"Capitalism is clearly triumphant, but it lacks a moral compass. Government is increasingly in a retreat, but it has an indispensable, even if changing, role to play," Jackson said.

Jackson will assume the CBG post after serving 12 years as a BankBoston executive vice president. He was in charge of corporate and community affairs, including advertising, economic analysis and community banking.

Jackson said he felt he had achieved all of his goals at BankBoston.