Former Maine House Speaker Hannah Pingree was introduced Thursday as Gov. Janet Mills pick to run a rebranded policy office aimed at focusing on the state’s economic future, though its ramp-up will require legislative approval.

It marks a long-awaited return to politics for Pingree, 42, of North Haven, who was House speaker from 2008 to 2010, the last of her four legislative terms. The daughter of U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree of the 1st District is often mentioned as a potential Democratic candidate for high office.

For now, Pingree is director of the Democratic governor’s Office of Policy and Management, which began under Republican Gov. Paul LePage after he led the disbanding of the State Planning Office that Maine had since 1968. Mills wants to turn it into the Office of Innovation and the Future.

In her inaugural address earlier this month, the new governor said the rebranded planning unit “will dive into major policy challenges” and “foster collaboration” between state agencies. On Thursday, Mills said the office will be focused on “action” and “taking down the silos that state government has been working under for a long time.”