Joe Nguyen, director of the Washington State Department of Commerce and a former state senator from White Center, is stepping down from his role and is expected to become the next leader of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber, according to the Washington State Standard.

Nguyen told Commerce employees Tuesday that he is leaving the agency but did not disclose his next position. He said he does not anticipate departing until sometime in January.

“Although I can’t tell you where I’m going just yet, I will be working in Seattle, closer to home,” Nguyen wrote in an agencywide email obtained by the Standard. “Sometimes opportunity knocks, even when you haven’t invited anyone to your door. Recently I was offered an opportunity outside of Commerce that I have accepted because it was the right thing to do for my family.”

The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber, an independent business group with about 2,600 members, plans to announce its next chief executive officer on Monday, the outlet reported. A chamber spokesperson declined further comment, and Nguyen did not return multiple requests for comment from the Standard.

The position has been vacant since Rachel Smith left the chamber to become president of the Washington Roundtable.

Nguyen, a Democrat who represented the 34th Legislative District, was in his second term in the state Senate when Bob Ferguson appointed him to lead the Department of Commerce. He is the first member of Ferguson’s executive cabinet to step down, though others have retired.

As commerce director, Nguyen oversaw an agency with a $7.9 billion budget that administers more than 100 programs related to housing, energy, community and economic development, local government and business services. Promoting the development of affordable housing was one of the agency’s largest responsibilities and a top priority of the Ferguson administration.

In his email to staff, Nguyen said he was “honored” that Ferguson “put his faith in me nearly a year ago” and thanked the governor for that trust. He said he did not know whether Ferguson would appoint an interim director or move quickly to hire a replacement.

In a statement reported by the Standard, Ferguson praised Nguyen’s work and said discussions about a replacement are ongoing.

“I spoke with Joe, and it’s clear he received an offer he couldn’t refuse,” Ferguson said. “I deeply appreciate Joe’s work this past year. Joe always has an open invitation to join my administration in the future.”