JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — John Watson, a staple of Gov. Jay Nixon’s inner circle since before his election and his current Chief of Staff, will be stepping down on Dec. 1, Nixon announced today.
“John’s keen intellect, unquestioned integrity, and unflappable demeanor have earned him the loyalty and respect of our staff, and of elected officials on both sides of the aisle,” Nixon said. “From college affordability to economic growth, there is not a single administration priority that did not benefit from his sage advice and deep understanding of state government.”
Chris Pieper, a senior legal and policy advisor to Nixon, will replace Watson, who served as Nixon’s COS both as governor and Attorney General since 1997. Pieper served as acting Director of the Department of Economic Development prior to serving as a Nixon advisor.
Pieper’s resume is a laundry list of jobs in state government including serving as General Counsel of the Department of Economic Development, Deputy General Counsel for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and Legislative Director for the Missouri Department of Revenue.
“Chris’s infectious energy, positivity, and intelligence have made him an invaluable and trusted member of my team, and I know he will enjoy the same level of success in his new role as my Chief of Staff,” Nixon said.
Collin Reischman was the Managing Editor for The Missouri Times, and a graduate of Webster University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
