U.S. President Barack Obama has named Gene Sperling as the new head of the National Economic Council, which oversees the administration's economic policies.
Sperling had the same job in President Bill Clinton's administration. He succeeds Lawrence Summers, another top economic official from the Clinton-era. Sperling has spent the first two years of the Obama administration as a counselor to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.
Mr. Obama made the announcement Friday during a visit to a window manufacturer located outside of Washington, D.C.
Sperling's appointment is the latest major staff change for the Obama administration as it begins dealing with a new Republican majority in the House of Representatives, and planning for the president's likely re-election campaign in 2012.
On Thursday, Mr. Obama named another ex-Clinton official, William Daley, as his new chief of staff, replacing Rahm Emmanuel.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
