-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- President-elect Barack Obama 's transition team announced several key appointments to his communications team Saturday . Robert Gibbs will have one of the most highly visible roles in the Obama administration . Robert Gibbs , an Obama campaign spokesman who also has acted as spokesman for the transition , will become Obama 's press secretary , one of the most highly visible roles in the administration . Gibbs , an Auburn , Alabama , native who has worked for Sen. Fritz Hollings , the Democratic Senatorial Committee and Sen. John Kerry 's presidential campaign , was communications director and then a senior strategist for the Obama campaign . Ellen Moran , executive director of EMILY 's List , will serve as Obama 's communications director . Moran worked for the AFL-CIO , coordinating `` Wal-Mart corporate accountability activities , '' before returning to EMILY 's , an organization dedicated to helping Democratic women get elected to office . It had endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton for president . See who 's on Obama 's short list for cabinet posts '' Dan Pfeiffer , current communications director with the transition team , will be Obama 's deputy communications director . He began work with the Obama campaign in January 2007 as traveling press secretary before returning to Chicago , Illinois , to work as communications director . Unlike Gibbs and Pfeiffer , Moran is not already on Obama 's communications team . `` These individuals will fill essential roles , and bring a breadth and depth of experience that can help our administration advance prosperity and security for the American people , '' Obama said in a written statement . `` This dedicated and impressive group of public servants includes longtime advisors and a talented new addition to our team , and together we will work to serve our country and meet the challenges of this defining moment in history . '' On Friday , sources indicated that some of Obama 's Cabinet posts were close to being filled . Two sources close to the transition team said New York Federal Reserve President Timothy Geithner is `` on track '' to be offered the Treasury secretary post . Watch CNN 's Anderson Cooper discuss Obama 's choices '' Transition officials told The Associated Press on Saturday that Obama planned to announce Geithner 's appointment on Monday , along with that of Lawrence Summers as director of the National Economic Council . Summers is a former president of Harvard University and served as treasury secretary under Bill Clinton . Two sources said Friday that Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico is a serious contender for commerce secretary but that he could be chosen for another senior post . Geithner has played a large role in the government 's efforts to wrangle the credit crisis , which has damaged markets and economies worldwide . Although a number of those efforts have been controversial , Geithner remains a well-regarded figure from Wall Street to Washington . Geithner began working with the Treasury Department in 1988 in the International Affairs division . In 1999 , he became under-secretary of the Treasury for international affairs . Geithner would be charged with restoring stability to the financial markets , the banking system and the housing sector through oversight of the controversial $ 700 billion financial rescue package , of which about half is still available for use at the discretion of the Treasury secretary . Watch CNN 's John King discuss the posts with panelists '' The Dow Jones industrial index staged a late rally Friday after traders heard news of Geithner 's possible appointment , rising by almost 500 points shortly before the market 's closing time . The two sources close to the transition team said they do not consider Richardson 's appointment to the Commerce Department to be a done deal . Richardson , 61 , was a candidate for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination . Currently in his second term as New Mexico 's governor , he served as ambassador to the United Nations and energy secretary in the Clinton administration . Richardson is also considered to be a possibility for the secretary of state post . Also Friday , Sen. Hillary Clinton 's camp shot down reports that she had agreed to accept the secretary of state position . `` We 're still in discussions , which are very much on track , '' said Philippe Reines , Clinton 's senior adviser . `` Any reports beyond that are premature . '' The New York Times reported that Clinton would give up her Senate seat and accept the Cabinet post , citing two confidants , who said the decision was made after further consultation with Obama about the nature of her role and his foreign policy plans . A senior Obama aide told CNN there has been no development on a possible Clinton appointment since they informed CNN Thursday that she is `` on track '' to be nominated for secretary of state . Obama 's transition team also appears close to choosing a national security adviser to the White House . Retired Marine Gen. Jim Jones has emerged as the president-elect 's leading choice for the position , two sources close to the Obama transition team say . The sources said Jones has been given the impression by Obama that the job is his if he wants it . But the officials said that private discussions are under way and that no final decision has been made . The discussions are focused on precisely how much power Jones will have in the staff job , since he is used to being in a command role . Among his many posts , Jones served for several years as the operational commander for NATO .