NC Governor’s Chief of Staff Kristi Jones Will Depart To Private Sector, Replacement Named

RALEIGH, NC — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s only chief of staff during his two terms is leaving her post in the administration’s final months for a move to the private sector. Another longtime aide will replace her.

The governor’s office said in a Friday news release that Kristi Jones will step down from overseeing Cooper’s office in mid-August. Julia White, who has worked closely with Cooper since his time as attorney general, will succeed Jones.

“For almost three decades, Kristi Jones has served our state with distinction and extraordinary skill,” said Governor Cooper. “I’m grateful for Kristi’s leadership and deeply appreciate Julia White stepping into the role of Chief of Staff. Julia has significant experience in state government and has been one of my closest advisors for more than 25 years. I’m confident we will continue our progress under her leadership.”

Jones was a co-chair of Cooper’s winning 2016 gubernatorial campaign and was the first African-American woman to become a North Carolina governor’s chief of staff. Jones, a Wilson County native, began working for state government in Gov. Jim Hunt’s administration in the late 1990s.

White currently serves as Senior Advisor to the Governor and previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff in the Governor’s Office. She was Chief of Staff at the NC Department of Justice from 2001-2005 and Senior Advisor from 2005-2016. She also worked for the North Carolina Senate President Pro Tem’s office under Senator Marc Basnight when Gov. Cooper served as Majority Leader. White grew up in Mebane, NC, and is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

White will lead the team as Governor Cooper continues to focus on investments in the state’s public schools, getting additional people access to health care through Medicaid and bringing more jobs to North Carolina.