Gov.-elect David Ige announced on Friday that Mike McCartney, the president and chief executive officer of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, will be his new chief of staff.

Ige and McCartney have been allies since they both served in the state Senate. McCartney is also a former executive director of the Hawaii State Teachers Association, a former chairman of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and a former director of state human resource development.

"I’m glad that I’m able to have a chief of staff that has broad private sector, public sector experience, working inside the executive as well as inside the legislative branch of government," Ige said at a news conference at the State Office Tower, his first since he was elected on Tuesday. "As you know, chief of staff becomes a very, very important position to the governor’s office.

"Mike’s personality, his style, his abilities, really provide an extension of my core beliefs of open government, being respectful and responsive to all concerns, and then — most importantly — doing the right thing the right way."

McCartney said he will resign from the HTA at a board meeting on Nov. 20. He called the new post a "once in a lifetime opportunity."

Ige invited people interested in serving in his Cabinet and administration to apply via a website that will go online at 5 p.m. Friday evening. He also said he has scheduled briefings with Abercrombie administration officials on the budget and other issues.

Ige’s transition team will be led by Keith Hiraoka, an attorney who was Ige’s campaign manager.

Ige will be sworn in as governor on Dec. 1. He said he has not yet selected a site for his inauguration.