Dwight Ball's senior strategist to become chief of staff

The staff changes keep coming in the premier's office. Premier Dwight Ball announced Friday afternoon that senior strategist Greg Mercer has been appointed chief of staff.

• Dwight Ball overhauls communications in premier's office
• Dwight Ball confirms Greg Mercer hired in 'senior role'

In the eight months since the Liberals were elected into office, both the chief of staff and deputy chief of staff have left their positions. Neither were directly replaced.

When Mercer was hired by the premier's office in June, Ball said his role would be that of "senior strategist."

In a news release Friday, he announced that Mercer is takingover for Kelvin Parsons, who resigned as chief of staff on June 30. Parsons served asjustice minister and attorney general under the previous Liberal government.

• Kelvin Parsons resigns as Dwight Ball's chief of staff

Mercer "has played a key role in the restructuring of the office since he joined the team in June," said Ball in his news release.

"Greg has been instrumental in advising and developing a plan for the future structure of government."

The appointmentcomes just one day after it was announced that Nancy O'Connor, who was in charge of Ball's communications during his campaign and worked with him while in opposition, will no longer be director of communications.

O'Connor is being replaced by Andrew Caddell, who will returnto the province after working as a senior policy advisor with various federal government departments.