George Paton has made some notable outside hires this week, bringing in ex-Vikings staffer Kelly Kleine and recent Lions exec Roman Phifer. But the new Broncos GM opted to promote from within to fill a key role.

John Elway‘s successor named Darren Mougey as the franchise’s new director of player personnel, the Broncos announced. Mougey, 36, has been with the franchise since 2012.

This high-ranking position, which frequently serves as the final stepping stone ahead of GM rises, became vacant after longtime Elway right-hand man Matt Russell stepped down after last season. Russell was with the Broncos since 2009.

“Darren is an outstanding evaluator who has an excellent reputation around the league as an up-and-coming personnel executive,” Paton said. “Getting to work with Darren over the last five months, he is a strong communicator and has great leadership qualities. We’re fortunate to have Darren leading our pro and college scouting while also being a sounding board on all roster decisions.”

Despite the Broncos changing GMs, this marks the second straight offseason in which Mougey has received a promotion. Last May, he rose from an area scout role to the Broncos’ assistant director of college scouting. Mougey will now oversee both the Broncos’ college and pro scouting departments and serve as Paton’s second in command.

The Broncos also hired Sae Woon Jo as their western national scout. Jo spent the past nine years with the Falcons, arriving early during Thomas Dimitroff‘s regime. He worked as Atlanta’s college scouting coordinator most recently.