President-elect Biden will formally announce key members of his White House staff on Tuesday, tapping Rep. Cedric L. Richmond of Louisiana to oversee public outreach and installing Jen O’Malley Dillon, who successfully managed his presidential campaign, as a deputy chief of staff, a person familiar with the transition said.
Biden will also announce that Steve Ricchetti, a longtime confidant, will serve in the White House as a counselor to the president.
Richmond, a Democrat from Louisiana, who served as a national co-chairman of Biden’s campaign and was an early supporter has scheduled a news conference for Tuesday where it is expected that he will announce he is leaving Congress.
O’Malley Dillon, a veteran of former President Barack Obama’s campaigns, has been credited with steering Biden’s presidential bid through the difficulties of the pandemic and the challenges of running against an unpredictable rival like President Trump.
Ricchetti is a close adviser and longtime lobbyist who has been by Biden’s side for years. He lobbied for the pharmaceutical industry and served as chief of staff when Biden was the vice president.