Along with Avril Haines, elected as the national intelligence coordinator, this 64-year-old former career diplomat, who has served in all Democratic and Republican presidencies, will have the task of leading the CIA.

If confirmed by the Senate, William Burns will become the first career diplomat to lead the CIA, the powerful US counterintelligence agency with 21,000 employees. He is neither a politician nor a military man nor a member of the intelligence elite, like most of his predecessors.

Bill Burns is an exemplary diplomat with decades of experience on the world stage keeping our people and our country safe and sound, Biden said in a statement.

He shares my deep conviction that intelligence must be apolitical, added the president-elect, who will take office on January 20.