US President Barack Obama was to make a personnel announcement later Wednesday, with all signs pointing to the president naming a new chief of staff, one of the most powerful positions in the White House, dpa reported.
Obama will name William Daley, who served as commerce secretary under former president Bill Clinton and is the brother of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, according to administration officials cited by The New York Times.
The choice would bring in a fresh face from outside the White House, though Daley still hails from Obama's own hometown of Chicago. Daley is currently a top executive with Wall Street powerhouse JP Morgan Chase.
The White House said Obama planned to make a "personnel announcement" at 2:30 pm (1930 GMT).
Daley would replace Pete Rouse, a long-time confidant of Obama who has been serving temporarily in the post since Rahm Emanuel left late last year to run for mayor of Chicago.
The choice of a permanent replacement new chief of staff to replace Rahm Emanuel marks the latest shift in Obama's inner circle as he begins the second half of his first term in office.
Top economic advisor Larry Summers, spokesman Robert Gibbs and chief advisor David Axelrod are all set to depart in the coming month. Obama is expected on Friday to name Gene Sperling, a top Treasury official, to replace Summers.