 President Vladimir Putin appointed him to the position on March 25, 2015 to replace former Governor Alexander Khoroshavin who was arrested and charged with accepting bribes.Previously, Kozhemyako served two terms as Governor of Amur Oblast and one term as the Head of Koryak Autonomous Okrug.Kozhemyako was elected as the Head of Koryak Autonomous Okrug on April 15, 2005, and held it until the okrug merged with Kamchatka Oblast on June 30, 2007.