Senior White House aide leaving for new post

President Obama's communications director is leaving her post to become the chief of staff for Commerce Secretary Gary Locke

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The first 100 days are not even up yet, but President Obama is already losing a top White House aide.

White House aides revealed Tuesday that Ellen Moran, the President's communications director, is leaving to become chief of staff to new Commerce Secretary Gary Locke.

In a written statement, the President thanked Moran, who had previously served as a top official at the fundraising group EMILY's List, which is charged with electing more Democratic women who support abortion rights to office.

"I thank Ellen Moran for her leadership during these first critical months of my administration, and I am pleased she will serve as chief of staff at the Department of Commerce," the President said in the prepared statement. "Her management and strategic skills will ensure that Secretary Locke, an important member of my economic team, gets off to a fast start."

No word yet on a successor but the current deputy communications director, Dan Pfeiffer, would be a natural fit.