Trump taps ex-Tennessee trade secretary for ambassador to Japan

WASHINGTON, March 24 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump nominated a former trade secretary in the state of Tennessee to be his ambassador to Japan, the White House announced.

William Francis Hagerty IV, 57, who is a co-founder of the private equity firm Hagerty Peterson and Co., served as Tennessee's trade and commerce secretary from 2011 to 2015.

"During his tenure, Tennessee was the top state for jobs and economic growth from 2013 to 2015 and led the nation in foreign direct investment, 60 percent of which came from Japan," the White House said in a statement.

Hagerty later served in Trump's transition team.

He began his career with the Boston Consulting Group in 1984 as an International Management Consultant and spent three years in Japan. In 1991, Hagerty worked as a White House fellow reporting to the vice president and focusing on international trade, commerce, treasury, defense, and telecom.

Hagerty returned to the private sector in 1993 and served as CEO and board member of companies with extensive operations in Asia and Europe, the White House said.

jschang@yna.co.kr
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