Washington (CNN) - Secretary of State John Kerry has asked his “old communicator and colleague,” Jen Psaki, to be the agency’s new chief spokeswoman, a senior State Department official said.

Psaki was President Barack Obama’s deputy communications director and worked with Kerry on his 2004 presidential campaign.

Most recently she has been a senior vice president and managing director with the Global Strategy Group.

The official said Psaki will be briefed over the coming days on the issues that she will deal with at the State Department.

The current spokesperson, Victoria Nuland, a career Foreign Service officer and former U.S. Ambassador to NATO, will return to the Foreign Service in a “policy role

Secretary of State John Kerry has selected the senior staff who will help him as the nation’s top diplomat. A Senior State Department Official confirms to ABC’s Dana Hughes the following changes in Secretary Kerry’s new administration: David Wade, Chief of Staff: Wade served as Kerry’s chief of staff in the Senate. William Danvers, Deputy Chief of Staff and Policy Director: Danvers is a foreign policy expert, specializing in nuclear reduction issues who’s worked for Defense, State and Intelligence agencies for over 30 years. Heather Higginbottom, Counselor of the Department: Higginbottom is a former Deputy Director of the federal Office of Management and Budget. Glen Johnson, Senior Advisor: A former Boston Globe reporter for 27 years, Johnson’s title is likely to change to Deputy Assistant Secretary of State. He will assist Kerry with strategic communications.