Lawyer Rodrigo Pintos-Lopez is John Pesutto’s new chief of staff

A commercial lawyer who once advised Premier Ted Baillieu will take charge of Opposition Leader John Pesutto’s office – ending months of speculation.

Opposition leader John Pesutto has appointed Rodrigo Pintos-Lopez as his chief of staff. Picture: David Crosling

A commercial lawyer who once advised Premier Ted Baillieu will take charge of Opposition Leader John Pesutto’s office.

Rodrigo Pintos-Lopez has been appointed as chief of staff to Mr Pesutto and will start in the role next month.

In an email to colleagues Mr Pesutto praised Mr Pintos-Lopez’s “strong background in public policy and government.”

And he pointed to his work as a senior adviser to Mr Baillieu.

“This valuable experience, especially in relation to the serious integrity and probity issues surrounding the Andrews Labor Government, will play an important role in supporting our team over the years ahead,” he said.

Chantalle Asmar has been appointed as deputy chief of staff.

Rodrigo Pintos-Lopez.

Chantalle Asmar.

The appointments bring to an end months of speculation over who would lead the office following Mr Pesutto’s elevation to the top job.

In the lead-up to the November election the office had no formal chief of staff following the resignation of new MP Nick McGowan, who resigned to campaign for an upper house seat.

McGowan, a close friend of Matthew Guy, stepped into the role in the wake of former chief of staff Mitch Catlin’s donation laws scandal.

Mr Catlin resigned in August following revelations he asked a party donor to donate more than $100,000 to his private business.

The proposed contract would have seen Mr Catlin’s Catchy Media Marketing and Management company paid more than $8000 each month by the donor, in addition to his taxpayer-funded salary.

An email leak revealed the mooted arrangement which was the subject of a Victorian Election Commission probe.

It was referred to the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission.