(Peggy McGlone, The Star-Ledger) The new CEO at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center didn’t take long to shake things up.

John Schreiber has fired long-time programmer Stephanie Hughley and her assistant, replacing them with a promoter with strong ties to the for-profit music industry.

The major shift, which Schreiber described as a “restructuring” of the department, brings BergenPAC executive David Rodriguez to Newark in the newly created position of executive producer/vice president.

Schreiber, who took over NJPAC four months ago, said yesterday that Rodriguez’s business experience is critical to the Newark arts center’s future.