Governor Phil Murphy today announced the departure of his longtime Chief of Staff George Helmy, confirming what InsiderNJ wrote about first earlier this month here.

“I don’t know where we would be without George,” said Murphy. “Simply put, you cannot write the history of our Administration without recognizing George’s singular role in leading our team for over four and a half years. His unique mix of public and private sector experience, strong management skills, and deep relationships across the political spectrum made him uniquely capable to excel in this job. From managing our all-of-government response to a once-in-a-century pandemic to driving nearly every single one of our legislative goals to completion, George has put his heart and soul into serving the people of New Jersey.

“George will continue to play a key role as a point person for our key relationships with national and state level political leaders,” added Murphy. “I wish him well in his next chapter, and I look forward to continuing to rely on his wise counsel as not only a trusted colleague, but more importantly, a close friend.”

“It has been the honor of my life to serve Governor Murphy and his Administration,” said Helmy. “When I started this job in early 2019, I had no idea what to expect. From dealing with a global pandemic to negotiating six on-time state budgets, I’ve approached every challenge with gratitude for the trust and confidence that the Governor and First Lady have placed in me. I tried to approach every issue we faced by upholding the high moral and ethical standards the Governor set for us and by leading with the same compassion and empathy the Murphys brought to governing every day. I look forward to continuing to support the Governor and First Lady during the remainder of the second term and beyond.”

Prior to serving as Chief of Staff, George Helmy served as State Director to U.S. Senator Cory Booker, serving on the Senator’s senior staff and overseeing the day-to-day operations of his New Jersey offices. Prior to that, he worked as the Senator’s state office Deputy Chief of Staff for two years.

Helmy has also worked in the private sector with two Fortune 100 companies and served as an aide to the late U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg, handling issues such as gun safety and financial affairs.

A native of Jersey City, Helmy lives in Morris County with his wife and two children. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers University and Master’s degree from Harvard University.

Helmy will depart the Governor’s Office at the end of the month. The Governor will name a new Chief of Staff later this year.