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Chris Liddell the most powerful New Zealander on the planet?

Author
Michael Sergel,
Publish Date
Tue, 20 Mar 2018, 8:13AM
Chris Liddell businessman (Photo \ Newspix)

Chris Liddell the most powerful New Zealander on the planet?

Author
Michael Sergel,
Publish Date
Tue, 20 Mar 2018, 8:13AM

From Matamata to number two in the White House.

Chris Liddell has been named White House deputy chief of staff.

That's sparked a description of the former businessman as one of the most powerful New Zealanders on the planet.

The former chief executive of Carter Holt Harvey has had a stellar business career in the US, including senior roles at Microsoft and General Motors.

The BBC's Nick Bryant told Mike Hosking that Liddell is one of Donald Trump's most mature advisers.

"He's regarded as one of the grown ups in the White House. The narrative at the moment is that a lot of the grown-ups are leaving.

"He's going to be the deputy to John Kelly and possibly the most powerful Kiwi on the planet because he's going to be the Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of policy."

Bryant believes Liddell has the skills to help get the adminstration back on track.

"He's got a CV that is just very, very impressive. He's been brought in to basically be in charge of policy in a White House which at the moment, appears to be in complete turmoil."

LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH MIKE HOSKING ABOVE 

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