Facebook courts Obama ex-aide Gibbs

Facebook is seeking out Gibbs ahead of an initial public offering planned for early 2012,these people said. The talks are still at an early stage and no formal offer has been made.

Gibbs,who left the White House in February after two years on the job,had been planning to help establish President Obamas re-election campaign before taking a private sector job,these people said. Facebook,however,is pressing Gibbs to consider the job more quickly,according to these people,who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the conversations were supposed to remain confidential.

A job for Gibbs at Facebook could be worth millions of dollars. While details of his potential compensation package have yet to be discussed,people briefed on the talks said that he would receive a cash salary as well as shares ahead of the initial offering. Facebook is being valued by some investors at more than 60 billion and could be the largest offering in history.

In recent weeks,Gibbs has consulted several of his former White House colleagues about whether he should take the job,including David Axelrod,President Obama8217;s former senior adviser,who is helping to head a re-election team,these people said. Gibbs and a spokesman for Facebook declined to comment.