NJ Transit names Drewniak interim chief of staff; deputy director Yellin steps down

New Jersey Transit has appointed Michael Drewniak interim chief of staff.

A former spokesman for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Drewniak will continue his role as the agency's chief of policy and strategic planning, agency officials said.

"Due to recent vacancies, certain responsibilities needed to be shared on an interim basis and Michael has agreed to step in and assume certain duties as chief of staff in the interim," said NJ Transit spokeswoman Nancy Snyder in a statement.

Meanwhile, Neil Yellin on Friday retired as NJ Transit's deputy executive director. No replacement has been determined, Snyder said.

The personnel changes come shortly after William Crosbie, a former Amtrak executive, accepted and then turned down a job as NJ Transit's executive director. Crosbie had been selected to succeed Dennis Martin, who's held the position on an interim basis since Veronique Hakim left in December 2015 to become president of MTA New York City Transit.

The agency hasn't yet named a permanent executive director.