NASHVILLE (AP) — Gov. Bill Lee named a new head of Tennessee's finance agency this week after the previous commissioner stepped aside to spearhead efforts to combat the coronavirus outbreak in the state.

Lee selected Butch Eley, who currently serves the Republican governor's chief operating officer, to take over the Department of Finance and Administration.

The governor's office says Eley will "continue to coordinate efforts between departments in the interim."

Eley served on Lee's business advisory campaign coalition during the 2018 governor's race. Before that, he was the chief growth officer of DBI Services and founder of Infrastructure Corporation of America. He also served in former Nashville Mayor Bill Boner's administration as director of economic and community development.

Eley replaces Stuart McWhorter, who left the post in March to lead the state's "unified command" tasked with addressing COVID-19.

McWhorter earned $209,520 a year as finance commissioner — the second highest paid member in Lee's cabinet. Eley earned $165,000 a year working as a top staffer for Lee.

Lee's spokesman Gill Ferguson says McWhorter's salary will remain unchanged while the governor's office is "evaluating" what Eley will be paid in the new role.

As governor, Lee earns more than $194,000 a year.

Lee, a Republican, announced the creation of Unified Command on March 23, declaring that it would "streamline coordination across the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), Tennessee Department of Health and Tennessee Department of Military."

With McWhorter leading, other members include Patrick Sheehan, TEMA director; Dr. Lisa Piercey, Department of Health commissioner; Maj. Gen. Jeff Holmes, adjutant general and Department of Military commissioner.

Only McWhorter's role is a new position.