Pence is said to replace Christie as head of Trump transition

Vice President-elect Mike Pence is replacing New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie as the head of President-elect Donald Trump's transition team, a person familiar with the matter said.

The move comes after Trump's surprise victory Tuesday gave way to the urgent task of planning how to fill thousands of administration jobs ahead of his January inauguration.

Christie took a political hit just before the election when two former allies were convicted on charges stemming from the George Washington Bridge traffic plot. He will continue to serve Trump as a deputy on the transition committee, the person said.

New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani will also serve as a deputy, the person said. Rick Dearborn, chief of staff to Trump adviser Senator Jeff Sessions, is the new executive director of the transition committee, the person said.