Kristen Grainger, who agreed to serve as Gov. Kate Brown’s communications director a few hours after Brown’s unexpected ascendancy to the state’s chief executive, is stepping down.

“Kristen has been a valued advisor, strategist, leader, and trusted friend,” Brown said in a statement Friday, Dec. 9. “As a member of my executive team who also served as acting chief of staff on occasion, she helped restore and maintain stability and calm during a very, challenging two years in which our state faced several crises. I am grateful for her willingness to step up when I needed her.”

Chris Pair, a press secretary in Brown’s office who left temporarily to work on her campaign earlier this year, will serve as the governor’s acting communications director after Grainger’s departure Dec. 31.

“I can only hope to serve half as well as Kristen Grainger did,” Pair said.

Grainger, a vice president at Willamette University, stepped into her position at the governor’s office Feb. 15, when Brown, then secretary of state, succeeded Gov. John Kitzhaber who stepped down amid an influence-peddling scandal. In Oregon, where there is no lieutenant governor, the secretary of state is next in line.

Grainger had been considering leaving the governor’s office for several months but didn’t tender her resignation letter until Nov. 20. Grainger agreed to stay with the office through the election and the rollout of the governor’s proposed budget Dec. 1.

“I will forever be honored that you called on me when you needed me and pleased I was able to step up,” Grainger wrote.

“You and Dan will always have my loyalty, respect, and friendship,” she added, referring to Brown’s husband, Dan Little.

Grainger has yet to announce her next steps.

“I haven’t slept in almost two years, so that’s high on the list,” Grainger quipped in an email to Oregon Capital Insider. She said she has “a couple of options” but isn’t ready to discuss those yet.

The staff changes are among several that come in the aftermath of Brown’s election Nov. 8 to complete the last two years of Kitzhaber’s term, a common time for staff turnover.

Abby Tibbs, interim policy director and senior advisor for policy and budget in the governor’s office, has been hired as deputy chief of staff, a new position Brown has created.

The governor also has hired Debbie Koreski, an associate vice president of government relations at Portland State University, as her new housing and human services policy advisor. Koreski succeeds Dani Ledezma, who left to work as housing program coordinator at the City of Portland.

Vince Porter, the governor’s jobs and economic policy advisor, is stepping down Dec. 15 to join Strategies 360 as vice president of public affairs.