“Francine Giani is one of a kind," Gov. Gary Herbert, her latest boss, said in a statement released Friday. “She has always been a firm but fair leader with an unwavering passion for protecting Utah consumers and keeping the playing field level for all businesses.”
Giani, who has served as executive director of the Department of Commerce since 2005, will be replaced by Public Utilities Division Director Chris Parker, who, beginning Jan. 17, will step in as interim director of the department while maintaining his current duties.
During her decades on the public payroll, Giani has served as everything from communications director (at a time the position was called “press secretary”) to director of the Division of Consumer Protection to head of the department overseeing the state-controlled liquor monopoly.