Appointment of Helene von Datum as Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Presidential Personnel

The President today announced the appointment of Helene von Damm as Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Presidential Personnel. Mrs. von Damm, currently Special Assistant to the President, will succeed John Herrington who is assuming the post of Assistant Secretary of the Navy.

As Director of Personnel, Mrs. von Damm will be responsible for the day-today internal management of the complex White House appointments process. In addition, the President intends to continue to rely on her personal assistance as may be required.

Mrs. von Damm has been associated with President Reagan since his first campaign for Governor in California in 1966. She has served him as personal secretary during his two terms as Governor, executive assistant during his business years, and as northeast regional finance director in the 1980 Presidential campaign. After the election, she worked with E. Pendleton James during the transition as associate director of personnel before assuming her present duties in the White House.

Helene von Damm was born and raised in Austria, where she received her formal education before immigrating to the United States in 1959. She recently married Byron Leeds, a New Jersey businessman.