McKenna announces new Chief of Staff

OLYMPIA – Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced the selection of former congressional chief of staff and private sector CEO Randy J. Pepple as his new Chief of Staff, effective June 1.

Pepple joins the Attorney General’s Office with more than two decades of experience in management, public policy, strategic planning, media relations and community engagement. His experience includes serving as Chief of Staff to a U.S. Congressman, leading the Northwest offices of the multinational communications consultancy Hill & Knowlton and, most recently, managing his own strategic communications consulting firm.

“Randy’s combination of management, strategic planning, public policy and communications expertise is ideal as we work to advance the public policy priorities of the Attorney General's Office: community safety, consumer protection and government integrity,” McKenna said. “He has experience in the chief of staff role and in managing across multiple offices, as regional CEO of a top national communications firm. He’s extremely well-qualified to lead the administrative, communications and policy staff of one of the nation’s most active Attorney General’s Offices.”

Pepple says the decision to suspend his private sector consultancy was bittersweet, but “the opportunity to become Attorney General McKenna’s Chief of Staff was too intriguing to let pass.”

“I’ve known Rob almost 30 years. He is a leader in our state and among state attorneys general,” Pepple said. “The chance to lead the fine administrative, policy and communications team he’s assembled — and to help advance his policy goals not just in our state, but across the country — is a great professional challenge.”

McKenna’s current chief of staff, Mike Bigelow, will retire on June 30, after more than 30 years of government administration and policy work, including positions with the Office of Financial Management, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Seattle School District. Bigelow joined the Attorney General's Office as its CFO in 2005, and McKenna appointed him Chief of Staff in December 2006.

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Contacts:

Janelle Guthrie, AGO Communications Director, (360) 586-0725