Kiwi on Trump’s adviser shortlist

Expat Kiwi businessman Chris Liddell is expected to become the White House’s new economic adviser following the departure of Gary Cohn last week, according to US media reports.

The New York Times reported that US President Donald Trump was ‘‘strongly considering’’ Liddell to replace Cohn as the director of the National Economic Council.

Matamata-born Liddell, a former chief financial officer of Microsoft and General Motors, joined the Trump administration last year and serves as the White House’s director of strategic initiatives. He was also chairman at Xero, but resigned after his appointment at the White House.

Cohn announced his resignation last week after a dispute over trade, just hours after Trump denied there was chaos in the White House.

Cohn, was the leading internal opponent to Trump’s planned tariffs on imports of steel and aluminium.

He tried to orchestrate an eleventh-hour effort to push Trump to reverse course, but the president resisted and reiterated on Tuesday he would impose the tariffs in the coming days.

The New York Times reported that while the president had not made a decision yet, he was after a prominent business figure, according to those who have spoken with him.

Liddell has worked closely with Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and senior policy adviser.

The Kiwi has also served as CFO at talent agency WME-IMG, and at International Paper.

At General Motors, he was also vice chairman, and led the company’s multibillion-dollar return to public market.

Liddell’s experience could fulfil the president’s demand for a business figure in the role, the officials said.

In an interview on TVNZ’s Q +A, Liddell said he supported free markets but not ‘‘unbridled free markets’’.