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The administration of Gov. Ralph Northam on Friday named its new communications chief, Grant Neely — filling a key administration job vacant since July.

Neely previously worked for Dominion Energy’s communications shop and also was chief-of-staff to then-Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones. While at Dominion, he worked extensively on the $1.5 billion proposal to redevelop part of downtown Richmond around a new arena to replace the Coliseum.

Dominion CEO Thomas F. Farrell II heads NH District Corp., the entity that pitched the project to city officials.

Neely also served as speechwriter for then-Gov. Mark Warner, a Democrat who is now a U.S. senator.

Neely will be the administration’s third staffer to helm its communications operation. The previous director, Ofirah Yheskel, left the administration in June to join the presidential campaign of former Texas congressman Beto O’Rourke. Her predecessor, Brian Coy, left the administration in September 2018 to work for a public relations consulting firm.