Clarence Armbrister will leave his position as senior executive at Temple to serve as chief of staff for Philadelphia Mayor-elect Michael Nutter at the beginning of his term, according to university spokesperson Ray Betzner.

He will continue to serve the university until Nutter is inaugurated January 1, 2008, when he will transition from North Broad to City Hall.

Armbrister has previously served a city-wide capacity, as city treasurer and managing director of the Philadelphia School District.

Armbrister was taken on by the Adamany administration in April 2003 at a salary exceeding $250,000, according to a report by The Temple News April 2004. He was promoted early in President Ann Weaver Hart’s administration.

Armbrister was not immediately available to comment, as a City Hall press conference was held at 2pm today. His connection to Nutter was not readily known.

More after the jump…

From the Inquirer’s “Heard in the Hall”

Mayor-elect Michael Nutter is expected to name Clarence D. Armbrister, senior executive at Temple University and a former city treasurer, as his chief of staff this afternoon. A press conference is scheduled for 2 p.m. in City Hall. At Temple, Armbrister is widely regarded as a highly capable and well-liked administrator. He was hired by former Temple President David Adamany in 2003, and promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer on Jan. 1 of this year by new Temple President Ann Weaver Hart. Armbrister has oversight over virtually all non-academic university operations. Before joining Temple in 2003, Armbrister was director of UBS PaineWebber’s Municipal Securities Group in Philadelphia. His public-sector experience includes stints as managing director of the School District of Philadelphia and city treasurer under then-Mayor Ed Rendell. His wife Denise McGregor Armbrister, is a member of the School Reform Commission. Nutter spokeswoman Melanie Johnson declined comment. In choosing Armbrister, Nutter again filled a high-level position with someone who is outside his inner circle and less known for his city political connections than his professional qualificiations. Nutter’s two other picks to date include former Washington Police Chief Chuck Ramsey, who will become Philadelphia’s police commissioner, and Rob Dubow, a former city budget director who will resign as head of the state agency that monitors city spending to become Nutter’s finance director.

More this afternoon.
Nutter to Name Chief of Staff [Heard in the Hall]