A special adviser to Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill has resigned just over two months after taking up the role.
Michelle Canning, a former journalist and PR professional, had been appointed as a Sinn Fein adviser in Ms O'Neill's office around early November.
The Executive Office (TEO) said the departure was due to "personal circumstances" and there are no plans to fill the vacancy.
Ms Canning is the former head of communications at the Housing Executive, and has previously worked in newspapers and at BBC Radio Foyle.
Ms O'Neill did not wish to discuss the matter in detail, describing it as an "internal HR issue".
But she told Belfast Live : "Michelle was a fantastic addition to the team and I will be sorry to see her go."
In a statement, an Executive Office spokeswoman said: "Due to personal circumstances, Michelle Canning gave notice of her intention to leave the post of Special Adviser to the Deputy First Minister on January 19.
"There are currently no plans to fill the post."
It means both Sinn Fein and the DUP each have three special advisers (Spads) in the first and deputy first ministers' joint office, out of a possible four each.
Spads are political appointees paid from the public purse who give advice to ministers.
Stormont has pledged greater scrutiny of the roles after accountability concerns were raised in the RHI inquiry.
A private member's bill being brought by TUV leader Jim Allister is seeking to introduce further regulation of Spads, as well as reducing the number of posts in the Executive Office.
