Obama Economic Adviser Leaving, Successor Picked

WASHINGTON (AP) — A White House official says Gene Sperling, President Barack Obama's top economic adviser, plans to leave in January and will be replaced by Jeffrey Zients, who has twice served as White House acting budget director.

The White House will announce the change Friday.

Zients would replace Sperling as director of Obama's National Economic Council, a post Sperling held for nearly three years. The New York Times reported the change Friday.

Sperling served in the same post under President Bill Clinton. He's said to be leaving for personal reasons. His wife works in Los Angeles.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to confirm the change before the announcement.