Gov. Don Sundquist today named Alex Fischer, commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development, as his chief of staff.
Mr. Fischer, 34, succeeds Wendell Moore, who is leaving state government to pursue opportunities in the private sector.
Mr. Fischer, known as a top economic recruiter, had been eyed by local officials as a possibility to head the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce. Jim Kennedy recently left that post.
Gov. Sundquist said, "I am looking forward to continuing the work of the administration with Alex Fischer. Alex brings a wide range of experience and knowledge to the table. During his tenure at ECD, Tennessee had achieved its best years in private capital investment."
Mr. Fischer was deputy in the department until he succeeded Bill Baxter late last year.
He worked as director of planning for the non-profit Tennessee Technology Foundation and was founder and executive director of Technology 2020, a public-private telecommunications partnership in Oak Ridge.
He was also with the public relations firm of Akins and Tombras in Knoxville.
A native of Hendersonville, Tn., he graduated from UTK with a bachelor's degree in economics and a master's degree in city planning.
He and his wife, Melissa, reside in Brentwood.
Mr. Fischer said, "I appreciate Gov. Sundquist's confidence. I look forward to the challenges and opportunities in serving the state of Tennessee in this new capacity, as well as continuing to be involved in our successful economic development activities."
He will continue to coordinate the activities of the Department of Economic and Community Development until a successor is named.