Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's chief of staff is departing

Craig Mauger, The Detroit News on Jul 17, 2026

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LANSING, Mich. — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Friday that her longtime chief of staff, JoAnne Huls, will be departing the key role in state government at the end of the month.

Huls has been a fixture within the Whitmer administration since the Democrat was first elected to lead the state in November 2018. Whitmer's new chief of staff, for her final five months in office, will be Zack Pohl, who was once the governor's communications director.

"For almost eight years, JoAnne has served the people of Michigan with strength, courage and professionalism,” Whitmer said in a statement. "She was by my side through it all, acting as an effective and decisive leader and helping us make historic progress to fix the damn roads, create jobs and more."

Before joining the Whitmer administration, Huls previously worked for former Gov. Jennifer Granholm and for the Michigan-based investment and real estate firm Sterling Group, founded by businessman Gary Torgow.

Huls will continue to be a senior adviser to Whitmer, the governor's Friday announcement said.

Like Huls, Pohl has also been a fixture in the Whitmer administration and served as her campaign's communications director in 2018. In recent years, Pohl has been Whitmer's principal deputy chief of staff.

"I’m incredibly grateful to have served alongside JoAnne over the last two terms, and her example will continue to guide our work here in the governor’s office," Pohl said. "It’s an honor of a lifetime to serve as chief of staff.

"I can’t wait to build on the progress we’ve made and keep getting things done for Michiganders."

Whitmer, who won races for governor in 2018 and 2022, can't run again in November because of Michigan's term limits.

In addition to the chief of staff change, Whitmer revealed that Maria Martinez has been promoted to chief deputy to the governor, and that her legislative affairs director, Kara Cook, has been promoted to deputy chief of staff.

As is typical with a term-limited governor, an array of exits from the Whitmer's administration is expected. Last month, Whitmer announced the departure of Elizabeth Hertel, who had been the director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

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