Russian President Dmitry Medvedev dismissed Nikolai Kolesov, 52, and last Thursday put Kozhemyako, 46, an aide to the chief of the presidential administration, forward for the post of new governor for the resources-rich region.
"Oleg Kozhemyako has already assumed power as Amur region governor, his inauguration took place on Monday," the spokesman said.
The majority of the local legislature voted in favor of Kozhemyako as governor earlier on Monday, a spokesman for the presidential envoy's department in the Far Eastern Federal District said.
Kolesov, who was nominated by then president and now Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in June 2007, has been accused of mismanagement after he allegedly underfunded local ministries and welfare programs.
Media reports earlier said a number of investigations into corruption, fraud and abuse of office had been opened against members of Kolesov's team, some of whom have been arrested.
