Tom Ingram, staff director for the Senate Republican Conference and chief of staff to Sen. Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), is returning to the private sector as a consultant for Alexander, Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and a handful of other Volunteer State politicians and corporations, Ingram told colleagues Monday.

In an e-mail announcing his departure, Ingram said that while “the past six years have been among the most interesting and rewarding of my careers [and] I love the Senate, the people in its community and have relished the reconnection with Lamar,— he planned to leave the office on May 1 to resume his dormant consulting career.

Alexander’s legislative director, David Morgenstern, will take over as his personal office chief of staff, while SRC Communications Director Ryan Loskarn will become the Conference’s staff director.

Alexander hailed Ingram in a release: “I’ve done some of my best work with Tom Ingram by my side. The Senate community and I will miss having him in Washington each and every day we’re in session, but I look forward to his remaining part of my team in a different capacity and know he’ll enjoy spending more time in Tennessee.—

“The leadership group he’s helped put together to serve in my Senate and Conference offices is capable, committed, and will do a great job for Tennessee and Senate Republicans,— Alexander said.

Alexander’s relationship with Ingram dates back about 35 years, when Ingram served as his press secretary during his first gubernatorial bid. Ingram has worked for Alexander in the state and in the Senate, and served on most of Alexander’s campaigns.