Quinn aide to take over state’s personnel agency

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Pat Quinn has named a new director of the state’s personnel agency.

Simone McNeil was named Friday to replace Malcolm Weems as chief of the Department of Central Management Services.

McNeil has been the Democratic governor’s director of operations since 2009. She will earn $142,000.

Weems became CMS director in April 2012. He resigned for a private-sector job.

CMS’ 1,400 employees handle hiring, property leases, technology and buying goods and services for state operations.

Under Quinn, McNeil handled operations and managed human resources. Quinn’s office says McNeil’s priority there was to analyze former human resources procedures to make improvements.

McNeil also worked for Quinn when he was lieutenant governor and has worked in health care in the private and public sectors.