Biden Names Former Obama Adviser to Lead Economic Council --Update

By Ken Thomas 

WASHINGTON -- President-elect Joe Biden appointed Brian Deese, who was an economic adviser to President Obama, to serve as the director of the National Economic Council in the latest addition to his economic team.

Mr. Deese's post, which does not require Senate confirmation, will be central to Mr. Biden's economic agenda as the incoming administration attempts to rebuild the economy during the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr. Deese held senior economic roles in the Obama administration, including as deputy director of the NEC and as deputy director of the White House Office of Management and Budget. He helped oversee the 2009 federal rescue of General Motors and Chrysler through the administration's automotive task force and helped negotiate the Paris climate accord.

After leaving the White House, Mr. Deese joined BlackRock Inc., the world's largest asset manager, as global head of sustainable investing.

Mr. Biden appeared earlier in the week with other members of his chosen economic team, led by Treasury secretary nominee Janet Yellen, the former chairwoman of the Federal Reserve; and Princeton University economist Cecilia Rouse, his choice to lead the Council of Economic Advisers.

Mr. Biden said Thursday Mr. Deese was a "trusted voice I can count on to help us end the ongoing economic crisis, build a better economy that deals everybody in, and take on the existential threat of climate change in a way that creates good-paying American jobs."

Write to Ken Thomas at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 03, 2020 13:08 ET (18:08 GMT)

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