Trump names Nigerian to strategic policy board

United States President-elect, Donald Trump, has tapped a Nigerian investment banker, Bayo Ogunlesi, to serve as a strategist on his economic policy team.

The 16-member group will be led by Stephen Schwarzman of the American equity firm, Blackstone, CNN reported on Friday.

Mr. Ogunlesi, a private equity tycoon, will serve as a member of the board, which also includes CEOs of General Motors and IBM.

The group will have a direct line to Mr. Trump and be tasked with giving the president-elect nonpartisan views on how government policy impacts the economy and jobs, the cable television said, quoting documents sourced from Blackstone.

The forum is expected to hold its first meeting during the first week of February at the White House.

Mr. Ogunlesi, 63, is the co-founder and chairman of Global Infrastructure Partners, an investment firm with a primary interest in infrastructure and real estate development.

He is perhaps best known for his 2010 acquisition of Gatwick International Airport in London, a deal that was said to be north of $2 billion at the time.

Mr. Ogunlesi is the first Nigerian to be appointed by Mr. Trump as he continues to shop for top advisers following his victory last month.

His appointment came a year after President Barack Obama named Adewale Adeyemo as his Deputy National Security Adviser for International Economics.
Premium times