Claire Leonardi is leaving her position as chief executive officer of Connecticut Innovations effective Jan. 8, the agency announced today.

The surprise announcement comes almost exactly a month after her husband, Thomas B. Leonardi, said he would be leaving his job as state insurance commissioner this month to join an investment banking firm.

“It has been a privilege to lead this organization through its transition to a larger, more diverse, highly-visible and impactful participant in Connecticut’s economic development landscape,” Leonardi said in a statement. “We couldn’t have accomplished what we did without the strong support of the Malloy administration.”

Michael Cantor, chairman of CI’s board, praised Leonardi’s “extraordinary vision and leadership” as she helped transition the agency into “one of the most active venture capital investors in the country.” Leonardi also oversaw the $200 million Connecticut Bioscience Innovation Fund intended to help jump-start the state’s investments in promising new scientific innovations.