Jay Carney was tapped as the new White House spokesman Thursday, replacing close confidant Robert Gibbs who is set to leave the job in early February, according to an internal White House email to staff that was published in US media.
Carney, a former journalist and Washington bureau chief with Time magazine, has served as Vice President Joe Biden's top spokesman during the first two years of the Obama administration, dpa reported.
Gibbs' departure has been part of a wider shake-up of Obama's inner circle since the start of January, including appointments of a new chief of staff and top political and economic advisors.
Gibbs, who has worked with Obama since his days as a senator in Illinois, will still be on the White House payroll as a senior advisor and is likely to serve as a top advocate for the administration on television shows.
White House press secretaries rarely survive the daily grind with Washington-based reporters for more than two years.
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