OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The head of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce is stepping down.

Gov. Mary Fallin announced Friday that executive director Dave Lopez will resign from that post, but will continue to serve as secretary of commerce in Fallin's cabinet.

Fallin announced that the agency's deputy director, Jonna Kirschner, will replace Lopez as executive director, effective Dec. 1.

A retired telecommunications executive, Lopez says limiting his work to the cabinet position will allow him more time to develop and promote economic development policies.

Kirschner has served as deputy director and general counsel of the agency since 2003. Before that, she was the managing director and vice president of The Kirschner Law Firm. She previously worked at law firms in the United Kingdom, where she is also licensed to practice.