President Obama has named Shailagh Murray, the communications director for Vice President Joe Biden and a former Washington reporter, as his newest senior adviser.
“Important things happen in the fourth quarter, and I am grateful to have an extraordinary team in place to accomplish all we can over the next two years on behalf of the American people,” Obama said on Tuesday. “For four years, I’ve relied on Shailagh Murray’s strategic advice and keen ability to cut through the Washington noise to focus on what matters to everyday Americans, and I’m proud to have her as a senior adviser.”
Murray will replace Dan Pfeiffer, who recently departed the White House after serving in the administration since its inception.
Obama also Tuesday announced that he had appointed Jason Goldman, the former head of product at Twitter, as the first-ever chief digital officer at the White House.
“Goldman brings new energy and coveted expertise as someone who’s helped shape the digital age,” the president said. “Our mission is to use every single tool available to ensure that all Americans can contribute to and benefit from our American resurgence.”
The infusion of fresh blood at the White House comes after a string of departures, including Pfeiffer, former senior counselor John Podesta and communications director Jennifer Palmieri.
The White House insisted Tuesday that the new hires would lead to real results in Obama’s final two years.
“[Obama] needs the best team on the field,” said a senior White House official. “Today, we are adding two professionals who will augment the highly-talented team now in place, who have been crafting and executing the president’s priorities in this fourth quarter.”
Murray has served as Biden’s communications director for the past four years. She has also been deputy chief of staff for the vice president since 2013.
Murray was a longtime congressional reporter for the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal.
