General Motors has hired former White House economics executive Everett Eissenstat to run GM's global public policy office as the threat of increased auto tariffs looms.
Eissenstat, 55, becomes GM's senior vice president of global public policy effective immediately. He will report to GM CEO Mary Barra.
In late June, GM filed a statement with the Department of Commerce in response to President Donald Trump's call for the department to investigate whether auto imports pose a threat to national security. Trump has threatened a 25-percent tax on imported cars and car parts. In the statement, GM warned it would have to slash jobs if the Trump administration expands U.S. tariffs.
Eissenstat's White House experience makes him uniquely qualified to tackle the tariff issue and more, GM said.
"He knows what's happening there because he just came from the Trump administration," said GM Spokeswoman Dayna Hart. "He has a ton of trade background, energy and automotive and he's worked both sides of the aisle, in a non-partisan way, throughout his career."
An Oklahoma native, Eissenstat was the White House deputy assistant to the president for International Economic Affairs and deputy director of the National Economic Council from June 2017 to this July. Eissenstat was appointed to the National Security Council and the National Economic Council where he led the White House economic team in developing financial institutions as well as devising policies in international energy and international trade, GM said in a news release.
During his White House tenure, Eissenstat served as the U.S. lead negotiator for the G20, APEC and G7 international economic summits.
"Everett Eissenstat has had a distinguished career in public policy managing complex issues around the world," said Barra. "His broad experience interacting at the highest levels of government, both within the U.S. and globally, and his track record for partnering and building relationships on both sides of the aisle make him a perfect fit to represent GM and our employees on key policy issues."
Contact Jamie L. LaReau at 313-222-2149 or jlareau@freepress.com
