Jamie Dimon gets perch for Trump era

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon will head the nation’s largest group of business executives starting next year, giving him a prominent perch in Washington for the start of Donald Trump’s presidency.

The Wall Street heavyweight will take over Business Roundtable’s (BRT) chairmanship duties from Doug Oberhelman, CEO of Caterpillar, who is retiring from his company at the end of the month.

{mosads}“Given the quality and diversity of its membership, the organization is uniquely positioned to advocate for meaningful solutions that create economic growth and opportunity for all,” said Dimon, who was briefly floated for Treasury secretary in President-elect Trump’s administration.

“With a new president and Congress soon to take office, there is a real opportunity for Business Roundtable to be a positive influence and show how business plays a critical role in this growth,” he said.

The 60-year-old Democrat could serve as a consensus-builder between business and the new Trump administration in the push for BRT’s agenda of tax, regulatory and immigration reform. 

To that end, Dimon joined the Strategy and Policy Forum announced by Trump’s transition team last week. The group includes more than a dozen top business leaders and is aimed at seeking advice on economic policy decisions. 

Dimon’s decade-plus of experience at the helm of JPMorgan and successful navigation through the 2008 financial crisis could help strengthen ties between Washington and Wall Street at a time of broad political upheaval.

Despite being considered for Trump’s Cabinet, Dimon has said he might be better off working from outside the administration to help the country grow.

“The results of the U.S. election reflected in some part the frustration that so many people have with the lack of economic opportunity and the challenges they face,” Dimon said in a statement.

“Working together, the business community and government can foster a healthy and vibrant business climate that creates opportunity for everyone in this country.”

Dimon, who has been CEO of JPMorgan since the end of 2005, will serve a two-year term for the business group. 

“Jamie is one of the most accomplished business leaders in America,” Oberhelman said.

“He is a strong and positive force for sound economic policies and the need for a diverse and skilled workforce,” he said. 

John Kasich, the governor of Ohio and a former Republican presidential hopeful, congratulated Dimon, saying on Twitter, “Your resiliency and collaborative spirit will serve you well!”  

John Engler, a former Republican governor of Michigan, will remain BRT’s president, a position he has held since 2011. The chairmanship rotates to a different person every two years.

BRT represents 192 chief executives from major U.S. companies. 

— This story was updated at 2:52 p.m.