NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee House speaker’s chief of staff is leaving his post to pursue new work in the private sector.

Scott Gilmer is departing to serve as vice president for business development at Path Company, according to a news release from Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton. The company works with government entities to solve infrastructure issues.

Gilmer has served as chief of staff under three different House speakers for more than seven years. He joined the General Assembly in 2007 and previously was the House’s director of policy and research.

Holt Whitt will serve as Sexton’s interim chief of staff. He worked as the director of legislation during the first half of the 111th General Assembly.

Last year, Gilmer replaced former chief of staff Cade Cothren, who resigned amid an explicit text messaging controversy that ultimately also helped drum former Speaker Glen Casada out of the House’s top position. Sexton replaced Casada and kept Gilmer in the top senior adviser role.