The commission that regulates utilities in Kansas has hired a top-level state Department of Agriculture official as its new executive director.

The Kansas Corporation Commission announced Wednesday that Kim Christiansen will supervise its staff of more than 200 employees. It did not say exactly when she would begin working at the KCC full time.

She will replace Patti Petersen-Klein, who left the executive director’s job earlier this month.

Petersen-Klein’s departure came after The Topeka Capital-Journal published contents of a consultant’s report based on interviews and surveys KCC employees. Petersen-Klein criticized people who worked for her at the KCC, and the consultants concluded that the rift between her and the staff couldn’t be repaired.

Christiansen is an assistant secretary at the Department of Agriculture and its general counsel.