WASHINGTON â€" Steve Ricchetti, a former lobbyist and Clinton administration veteran, will replace Bruce Reed as Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s chief of staff next month, the White House announced Wednesday.
Mr. Ricchetti has had a lengthy career in Washington, and has been a counselor to Mr. Biden since early 2012. Like Mr. Reed, he worked in the Clinton administration, having been President Bill Clinton’s deputy chief of staff and deputy assistant for legislative affairs.
Much of Mr. Ricchetti’s time in politics has been spent in lobbying, which caused some tension when he joined the administration in light of President Obama’s campaign promise to keep lobbyists out of the top jobs in his White House.
“Steve and I have been friends for years, and I was thrilled when he joined my staff as counselor,†Mr. Biden said in a statement. “He has a wealth of experience in policy and government, he knows Congress and he has strong relationships with the West Wing staff. I’m lucky to have him.â€
Mr. Reed plans to leave the administration in mid-December to become president of the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, a multibillion-dollar philanthropic organization dedicated to education, science and the arts. He has worked as chief of staff since January 2011.
Shailagh Murray, a veteran journalist until she came to the White House in May 2011, will add the position of deputy chief of staff to her duties while continuing to serve as Mr. Biden’s communications director.
