The chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Howard Coble has announced that she is leaving Coble’s office to pursue a career in the private sector.

Coble has already named a former chief of staff to replace Missy Branson, his current chief of staff and press secretary. She is leaving the staff at the end of the year.

Branson, a North Carolina native and longtime aide to Coble, has accepted a position with The Ferguson Group, a lobbying firm headquartered in Washington, D.C.

“We are disappointed Missy has decided to leave the Coble team after all these years,” Coble said. “For almost 11 years, Missy has ably served the citizens of the 6th District, and while we are sad to see her go, we wish her well in her new endeavors at The Ferguson Group. She will be a tremendous asset to the firm and its clients.”

Branson said the decision to leave was a difficult one.

“I was lucky to work in one of the greatest offices on Capitol Hill,” Branson said. “The residents of the 6th District are fortunate to have Howard Coble representing them in Washington, and it was an honor and a privilege to work with him for the past eleven years. While it is difficult to leave such a wonderful group of people, I am very excited about the new opportunities and challenges awaiting me at The Ferguson Group.”

Branson is a native of Thomasville, North Carolina, and a 1992 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She began working for Coble in 1993 and held a variety of positions in the office during her tenure. She will begin her new job on Jan. 5.

Coble has announced that Ed McDonald, his former chief of staff, is returning to the office to assume his old post. McDonald, a Maryland native, left the office at the beginning of this year to work for Maryland Gov. Bob Ehrlich, where he served as deputy chief of staff to the governor.

Prior to leaving for the job with Ehrlich, McDonald had worked with Coble on his first campaign in 1984 and had served in his congressional office for the past 18 years where he was Chief of Staff from 1988-2002.

“While we are sorry to lose Missy, we are pleased to welcome Ed McDonald back to the Coble team,” Coble said, “and I know he looks forward to serving the citizens of the 6th District once again.”