South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley will introduce Mitt Romney at a gathering of conservative activists on Friday, a GOP source told CNN.

Haley, who endorsed Romney early in last year's Republican primary contest, wasn't previously listed as a featured speaker at the Conservative Political Action Conference, the annual confab of activists that's taking place this week at a resort just outside Washington in suburban Maryland.

Romney is scheduled to speak Friday, his first major speech following last November's election.

In December 2011, he won Haley's backing amid a crowded Republican field of candidates. The endorsement came weeks before South Carolina's "first in the South" presidential primary.

Romney placed second in that contest behind former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

Haley was elected governor in 2010 with backing from the tea party. She became the state's first female governor and the second Indian-American elected to a governorship, after Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.

At 40, she is currently the youngest governor.