UCP executive director resigns after helping to build party

Janice Harrington, the executive director of the United Conservative Party, has resigned.

Harrington confirmed to CBC News that her resignation from the party would be effective June 1. She declined to say why she stepped down.

"This has been an amazing opportunity over the last two years, building a new party leading ultimately to our April victory. But now is a good time for a transition," she said in an emailed statement. 

Brad Tennant hired as new executive director

UCP president Erika Barootes says Brad Tennant was hired as the party's new executive director on Friday.

"I want to thank Janice for all her hard work. Without her dedication and passion for our party, we would not be where we are today," Barootes wrote in an email sent out to UCP members Monday evening.

"Brad Tennant is well known across our party for his commitment to our movement and his involvement in conservative politics over the past decade."

Harrington was the executive director of the Progressive Conservative association, and helped shepherd the merger of the Progressive Conservative and Wildrose parties into the UCP.

Harrington said she has yet to determine her next steps, but will support Tennant's transition into the role.

Before her work with the UCP, Harrington worked for years in communications and government relations, including a five-year stint as director of communications for the Government of Alberta's public affairs bureau.

Her replacement, Tennant, was the UCP's director of fundraising and played a senior role during the election campaign, Barootes said. Before that, he worked with the Wildrose party.