Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy has named Ron Klein as the interim director of the Department of Communications while a search is made for a permanent hire.

Klein succeeds Hunter George, who has served as director since 2009 and resigned to take a senior communications post with Metro Parks Tacoma. George’s last day with the county isJuly 24.

Klein, who retired as Sound Transit’s executive director of Communications and External Affairs last year, will start July 27 and serve on a temporary basis while the county conducts a search, which will be managed by Karras Consulting of Olympia.

It’s a return engagement for Klein, who served as Pierce County’s first communications director from 2001 to early 2009 before moving to Sound Transit. During his tenure with the county, Klein created the identity and marketing campaign for the new Chambers Bay Golf Course, among other notable accomplishments.