Iowa Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg, a Republican, announced his immediate resignation from his role as second-in-command in the Hawkeye State to become the CEO of the Iowa Bankers Association, which he said would allow him to focus on his family.

Gregg has served as Iowa’s lieutenant governor since 2017, when Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) was elevated to the governorship after Terry Branstad resigned to become the U.S. ambassador to China. He was elected to the position in 2018 and 2022, but he is resigning before the end of his four-year term and said on Tuesday that he feels his time in public service has come to an end.

Reynolds announced Gregg’s resignation on Tuesday, calling him a “tremendous partner and an important part of my team.”

“Adam has been a tremendous partner and an important part of my team over the last seven years, and I greatly appreciate his service to Iowans,” Reynolds said. “It comes as no surprise that he would choose to step down to prioritize his personal life.”

“Adam is a devoted husband and father, and there is nothing more important to him than his family. Even as lieutenant governor, he has made time to coach his young son and daughter, be involved at their school, and participate together in church activities. This most certainly is the right decision for Adam, and I wish him, Cari and their children only the best,” Reynolds added.

Shortly after Reynolds announced Gregg’s resignation, the Iowa Bankers Association announced the outgoing lieutenant governor as its new president and CEO.

“I am excited to join the dynamic team at the IBA as president and CEO,” Gregg said in a statement. “In my time as lieutenant governor, I found that for every good thing happening in our state, there was an Iowa bank backing it. Now I have the great honor to represent this industry, which is so critical to Iowa’s success.”

“I’m grateful to the IBA board of directors for providing me this opportunity and for the strong foundation laid by John Sorensen in his 28 years leading the IBA,” he added.

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Reynolds’s office said Tuesday she would appoint a new lieutenant governor this fall. The appointee will serve the remainder of Gregg’s term, which expires in January 2027.

While the lieutenant governorship is vacant, the next in Iowa’s line of succession to the governor is Republican state Senate President Amy Sinclair.