Chief of Staff Helmy Leaving Murphy Administration

On Sep 19, 2023

George Helmy, Gov. Phil Murphy’s chief of staff for more than four-and-a -half years, will leave his post at the end of this month.

Since joining the Murphy administration in February of 2019, Helmy has managed and overseen the governor’s major policy initiatives, legislative agenda, communications strategy, intergovernmental relations, private sector engagement, and community outreach, among other responsibilities. He also served as the governor’s point person for the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He is the longest-serving gubernatorial chief of staff in New Jersey history.

“I don’t know where we would be without George,” Murphy said. “Simply put, you cannot write the history of our administration without recognizing George’s singular role in leading our team. His unique mix of public and private sector experience, strong management skills, and deep relationships across the political spectrum made him uniquely capable to excel in this job.”

“It has been the honor of my life to serve Gov. Murphy and his administration,” Helmy said. “When I started this job in early 2019, I had no idea what to expect. From dealing with a global pandemic to negotiating six on-time state budgets, I’ve approached every challenge with gratitude for the trust and confidence that the governor and first lady have placed in me. I tried to approach every issue we faced by upholding the high moral and ethical standards the governor set for us and by leading with the same compassion and empathy the Murphys brought to governing every day. I look forward to continuing to support the Governor and First Lady during the remainder of the second term and beyond.”

Michele Siekerka, president and CEO of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association, commented, “We are definitely going to miss George’s professionalism and engagement. He has had an open door and open ear to the business community. Though we may have not always agreed on the end game, George always engaged the business community in discussions and took time to understand the issues affecting our employers. He was also played a big role in the sunset of the Corporate Business Tax surtax, which makes New Jersey more competitive.”

Helmy will continue to play a key role as a point person for the state’s relationships with national and state level political leaders, Murphy said.

Prior to serving as chief of staff, Helmy served as state director to U.S. Senator Cory Booker, serving on the senator’s senior staff and overseeing the day-to-day operations of his New Jersey offices. Prior to that, he worked as Booker’s state office deputy chief of staff for two years.

Helmy has also worked in the private sector with two Fortune 100 companies and served as an aide to the late U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg, handling issues such as gun safety and financial affairs.

A native of Jersey City, Helmy lives in Morris County with his wife and two children. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers University and Master’s degree from Harvard University.

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