President Obama has chosen former journalist Jay Carney to replace press secretary Robert Gibbs, a longtime loyalist, when he leaves the post in mid-February — one of a number of staff changes announced today by White House chief of staff Bill Daley.
Daley also named two new deputy chiefs of staff: Nancy-Ann DeParle, director of the Office of Health Reform, and Alyssa Mastromonaco, White House director of scheduling and advance.
“I believe these decisions will bring greater clarity to our structure and roles and will enhance coordination and collaboration among us,” Daley wrote in an email announcing the moves.
Carney, now the communications director for Vice President Biden, is the marquee move as he will assume perhaps the most high profile staff job in the White House.
He came to the Administration in 2008 after a long career in journalism that included serving as Washington bureau chief of Time magazine. Carney is married to ABC News’ correspondent Claire Shipman.
The White House had made clear it was interested in tapping an outsider for the post — particularly after Bill Daley was named the new chief of staff. Yet finding a successor to Gibbs has been no easy task. He enjoyed a close relationship with Obama dating back to 2004 when he worked on the president’s Senate campaign.
Gibbs is expected to open his own consulting operation and appear on television as a prominent surrogate for the president. He will also be involved in the planning stages of Obama’s reelection bid, which will be led by current deputy White House chief of staff Jim Messina.
{The Fix-Washington Post/Matzav.com}
