Former Microsoft executive Kurt DelBene will take over day-to-day responsibility for the smooth running of HealthCare.gov. The government’s insurance marketplace is just recovering from the pain of a bungled launch. Jeff Zients, who is credited for bringing it back on track, is about to start his new job as a director of the National Economic Council.

DelBene has agreed to stay at HealthCare.gov for at least through the first six months of the year. His stint begins Dec. 18.

[See also: HealthCare.gov 'like night and day'.]

A 20-year Microsoft veteran, DelBene was president of the Microsoft Office Division until he retired last summer. As senior adviser to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Delbene will lead and manage HealthCare.gov.

"Kurt has proven expertise in heading large, complex technology teams and in product development," Sebelius said. "He will be a tremendous asset in our work."

She said DelBene would work closely with her, the White House, and the teams and senior leadership in place at HHS and CMS to see the project through its next important phase.

"He has agreed to serve in this role for at least the first half of next year," Sebelius said. "Because of the site’s progress, his responsibilities, while similar to Jeff's, will reflect an evolution of focus as we move on to the next phase."

As Sebelius described it, DelBene would provide management expertise, operations oversight, and critical advice on additional enrollment channels, field operations, marketing and communications.

"The president and I believe strongly in having one person, with strong experience and expertise in management and execution, who is thinking 24/7 about HealthCare.gov," she said.

DelBene's work would be in consultation with CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner and in partnership with the project’s general contractor, QSSI, Sebelius added.

"Second, Kurt will execute the plan in place, so that we can ensure the site’s performance is strong through the close of open enrollment on March 31, 2014," Sebelius said. "This will include a focus on increasing system stability, redundancy and capacity, and building on improvements to the user interface, while continuing to prioritize security and privacy issues in line with industry best practices."

Sebelius credited Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Mark Warner of Virginia, Chris Coons of Delaware, Mark Udall of Colorado, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Tim Kaine of Virginia for pressing the administration to make sure they quickly replaced Zients with someone of the same skills.

"A project of this size and scope demands the sustained leadership and day-to-day management of a chief executive officer -- someone whose sole responsibility would be an unrelenting focus on healthcare.gov and who has experience overseeing large and complex consumer-facing technology projects," they wrote in a letter to President Obama last month.

[See also: What happened to Healthcare.gov?.]

"I am committed to providing and directing the additional resources needed for this project," Sebelius said.

DelBene is married to Suzan DelBene, who serves as Washington State's 1st congressional district representative.