Kiwi Trump aide pulls out of OECD job
Expat New Zealand businessman Chris Liddell has withdrawn his candidature to head the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Liddell, who was former US President Donald Trump’s deputy chief of staff for policy coordination, was nominated by his former boss for the top international post.
On January 19, the OECD confirmed Liddell had withdrawn his nomination for the post of OECD secretary-general.
In a statement, the OECD thanked Liddell ‘‘for his willingness to be nominated for the position and for the spirit with which he has engaged in the process’’. Liddell is a New Zealandborn dual US-NZ citizen.
His nomination to head the OECD has caused much controversy in New Zealand.
The Government refused to comment on whether or not it would back him, while National and ACT initially said the Government should, before pulling back after the storming of the US Capitol in early January. The Green Party has consistently opposed his nomination.
The OECD is a forum of 37 mostly rich and large countries that works to set multilateral guidance on matters including trade and taxes. Seven candidates remained for the post, including Mathias Cormann from Australia and former Swedish European Trade Commissioner Malmstrom.
Candidates faced questions from the 37 ambassadors to the OECD appointed by its members nations, in interviews that in at least one case lasted three hours.
Liddell was previously vicechairman and chief financial officer at General Motors, leading global finance operations and managing the company’s US$23 billion initial public offering in 2010.
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