After roughly seven and a half years as Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s chief of staff, JoAnne Huls is stepping aside from the post she has held since the administration began. Her principal deputy, Zack Pohl, is expected to move up to lead the executive staff, keeping the governor’s top operation firmly in familiar hands.
According to Crain's Detroit Business, Huls will leave the job and Pohl will take over as chief of staff, with the outlet emphasizing her lengthy run as Whitmer’s top aide. Crain’s coverage presents the change as an internal promotion that maintains continuity inside the governor’s leadership team rather than a broader shake-up.
Huls’ role and tenure in Lansing
Huls has effectively been Whitmer’s on-the-ground manager in Lansing since day one, overseeing scheduling, staffing and crisis communications for the administration. As reflected in personnel announcements and official statements on Michigan.gov, her name has surfaced repeatedly in connection with moves inside the executive office, underscoring her long-standing presence at the center of Whitmer’s operation.
Who’s stepping in
Pohl has been serving as a senior communications and operations aide in Whitmer’s office, climbing from campaign and press positions into the principal deputy slot where he helped coordinate messaging and day-to-day work. Past profiles and personnel notices, including a campus Q&A, have highlighted his communications chops and experience in state politics, experience the administration is set to lean on as he shifts into a broader managerial role.
Timing and what it means
The handoff comes as the Whitmer administration pushes through a packed policy agenda in 2026, a year the governor has described as her final stretch in office and one in which she is pressing priorities such as literacy and housing. The governor’s prepared State of the State materials and related planning have stressed the importance of stability in the executive office during a heavy legislative and budget season, making a promotion from within a logical play for continuity.
Crain's Detroit Business first reported the staff shift and highlighted Huls’ roughly 7½ years leading Whitmer’s team. The administration has signaled that elevating Pohl is intended to keep the governor’s senior ranks steady as policy work continues through the year.
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