COLUMBIA, SC — The SC Republican Party announced leadership changes Thursday morning, a consequence of Tim Scott’s elevation to the US Senate.

Scott, a North Charleston Republican who succeeded Sen. Jim DeMint after he resigned to lead the Heritage Foundation, has selected state GOP Executive Director Matt Moore to be his state director, the party said in a news release.

Party chairman Chad Connelly, who praised the choice, said Moore would begin his new job next week. Connelly said current political director Alex Stroman will become executive director. Member services director Hope Walker will succeed Stroman.

“Sen. Tim Scott has made an outstanding choice in Matt Moore as state director,” Connelly said. “I could not be prouder. Our party is undoubtedly stronger due to Matt's steady guidance.”

Moore said he was “sincerely blessed” by the new opportunity.

Moore, who spent two years running the state party and was executive director of the SC Club for Growth, could provide contacts statewide for Scott, who has spent his his 17-year political career serving the Lowcountry.

Stroman, as political director of the state party, oversaw the S.C. delegation at the 2012 Republican National Convention, managed the 2012 State Convention and helped organize presidential debates.

Scott rounded out his Senate staff:

-Rich Dunn, chief of staff. He was political director at the National Republican Senatorial Committee and was chief of staff for US Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn.

-Jennifer DeCasper, deputy chief of staff. She held the same job in Scott's House office.

-Joe McKeown, executive director. He was Scott's chief of staff in the House. Scott's one-time fellow Charleston County Councilman managed his congressional bid.

-Kimberly Wallner, legislative director. She was the legislative director to DeMint, whom she worked for since 2003.

Kelly Davis and Andrew Shain