In this file photo taken on December 08, 2020, Jeff Zients, named to serve as coordinator of the Covid-19 response and counselor to President-elect Joe Biden, speaks after Biden announced his team tasked with dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, in Wilmington, Delaware. (File photo: AFP)

U.S. President Joe Biden picked former COVID-19 policy coordinator Jeff Zients to be the next chief of staff, said the White House in a statement on Friday.