Barack Obama kept up the hectic pace of his transition on Thursday, moving to fill key positions in his White House and preparing to announce the most senior economic job in his administration.

The flurry of appointments included Rahm Emanuel, the Illinois lawmaker, as chief of staff; David Axelrod, Mr Obama’s campaign chief strategist, as White House senior adviser; and Robert Gibbs, his campaign communications chief, as the White House press secretary – its public face.