Gov.-Elect Marsha Blackburn Announces Personnel Updates

Gov.-Elect Marsha Blackburn has announced the retention of Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Mark Ezell and Agriculture Commissioner Andy Holt, as well as the addition of Finance and Administration Commissioner Todd Kaestner.

Kaestner previously served on the Williamson County Commission, briefly ran for Williamson County mayor in 2026 and has served on the Tennessee Board of Regents, with a term to expire in June 2028. He was previously the chief financial officer and executive vice president of corporate development for Brookdale Senior Living.

Ezell was first appointed in 2019 by Gov. Bill Lee. Lee appointed Holt to his current role in 2025 after he previously served as deputy commissioner and assistant commissioner for the Business Development Division, and in the state House of Representatives. Both commissioners called it an “honor” to continue to serve in their roles.

Blackburn also announced the appointments of Russell Thomas as chief legal counsel and Ben Blackmon as policy counsel. Most recently, Thomas served as executive director of the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Tabatha Blackwell, who served as assistant director, is now interim director of the ABC.

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Blackmon currently serves as chief counsel to Blackburn in her capacity as a U.S. senator and has also served as chief counsel for the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law, which Blackburn chairs. He also previously served as counsel for the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.

Blackburn also announced the executive leadership team and co-chairs for her January 2027 inauguration, led by chairman Ward Baker, founder of political consulting firm Baker Group Strategies, which led Blackburn's campaign.

Other team members include executive director Amy Pass, director of donor relations Melina Settles, director of communications Anna Katherine White and strategic adviser Mary Morgan Ketchel. Ketchel is Blackburn's daughter.

Inaugural co-chairs include Daphne and Scott Andrew (Tri-Cities), Anita and Tom Decosimo (Chattanooga), Stephanie and John Ingram (Nashville), and Anne and Mike Keeney (Memphis). Jim Haslam will serve as honorary co-chair.

This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.