Anna Perez, who served as press secretary...

Anna Perez, who served as press secretary to former First Lady Barbara Bush for four years, has accepted an executive position at Hollywood’s Creative Artists Agency. Her duties, beginning Feb. 1, are to include media relations, political and governmental affairs and charitable activities.

Perez replaces Stephen Rivers, 37, who is resigning after three years at the Beverly Hills-based talent agency, which represents stars such as Kevin Costner and Madonna. He will remain a consultant to the company.

The changeover brings a savvy Washington insider to CAA, which in recent years has expanded its business activities to include advertising, sports programming and corporate consulting.

Before her White House job, Perez was a veteran press secretary on Capitol Hill. CAA Chairman Michael S. Ovitz said Perez, 41, offers “a great wealth of experience and energy.”

Rivers’ background includes a stint with Jane Fonda and several political jobs.

Ovitz praised Rivers’ public handling of delicate CAA dealings such as the sale of MCA Inc. to Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. and its advertising agreement with Coca-Cola.

“Stephen has made an enormous contribution to the success of our company over the past three years,” Ovitz said. “We are sorry to see him go, but we respect his decision.”