Story highlights Hicks was one of the first people to join Trump's campaign press team

The role of communications director has been vacant since Anthony Scaramucci was ousted

(CNN) Senior communications adviser Hope Hicks has been named as the interim White House communications director, a White House official told pool reporters Wednesday.

The official added in a statement that the administration will "make an announcement on a permanent communications director at the appropriate time."

The interim communications director position would be in addition to her current role as a communications adviser. This appears to be a way for chief of staff John Kelly to give her a more defined role in the White House. A White House official noted that Hicks, 28, will not move into the office that is allocated for the communications director, but will instead remain in her current space outside of the Oval Office.

The role of communications director has been vacant since Anthony Scaramucci was ousted from the position shortly after John Kelly took over as chief of staff last month.

As the White House senior communications adviser, Hicks helped shape Trump's messaging. Previously, she was a public relations professional for the Trump Organization before becoming one of the first people to join Trump's campaign press team.

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