Greek Australian Andrew Liveris has been chosen by United States President-elect Donald Trump to head the American Manufacturing Council.
Announced on Friday at a rally in Michigan, Mr Trump introduced Mr Liveris as “one of the foremost leaders in manufacturing, one of the foremost leaders in the world of business”, reports the ABC.
“Andrew Liveris [is] one of the most respected businessman in the world and I’m asking him to come up and head up our American Manufacturing Council — and he’s agreed to do it,” Mr Trump said.
The council is a private sector group responsible for advising the US secretary of commerce, and is being tasked with finding ways to bring industry back to America.
Born in Darwin, Mr Liveris studied chemical engineering at the University of Queensland, where he also received his honorary doctorate.
A dual US-Australian citizen, the 62-year-old addressed those gathered at the rally, claiming “we’re going to put you all to work” while praising Mr Trump and his policies.
“President-elect Trump, I can’t tell you, I tingle with pride listening to you, but to honour me to help you chair American Manufacturing Council to put in place the investments that you talk about, you’re paving the way with your administration, with your policies, to make it easier to do business in this country – not a red-tape country but a red-carpet country for American businesses,” Mr Liveris said.
“America first, as you said. That’s what we have to do.”
The council, which consists of some 25 private-sector individuals, is expected to be established next week and will be made up of “America’s finest and brightest”.
“We need to help all of our citizens, we need to give you hope, we need to find a way back to believe in ourselves again,” Mr Liveris said.
“As you rightly said, I may have a funny accent – we Aussies love America a lot – I bleed America and I bleed Michigan, that’s what I do.
“Thank you, sir, it’s an honour – let’s make America great again by building great things in America.”