Gov. Ned Lamont appointed Paul Mounds as his chief of staff Thursday, succeeding Ryan Drajewicz, of Westport, as part of a planned transition.

He also appointed Department of Administrative Services Commissioner Josh Geballe to fill the position of chief operating officer, which Mounds held.

Gov. Lamont touted Mounds as “one of the hardest working people with whom I’ve had the opportunity to work [with].”

According to prepared remarks from the governor: