Former Trump economic advisor, Gary Cohn appointed as IBM's Vice Chairman

IBM has roped in Gary Cohn as its Vice Chairman and a member of its executive leadership team. He was a one-time senior Goldman Sachs executive and a former economic advisor for President Donald Trump.

According to the company, Cohn will work alongside CEO Arvind Krishna on business development, public advocacy, client services, and other areas.

"I am honored to be joining IBM as Vice Chairman," Cohn said in a tweet. "IBM is one the world's most important companies, providing technology that helps organizations be agile and resilient in unpredictable times."

Cohn was a key lieutenant to former Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein. While working for the company he played a critical role in helping Wall Street's most storied investment bank navigate the challenges of the 2008 financial crisis.He also helped ingratiate Goldman into the fast-growing corners of Silicon Valley, forging early relationships with startup founders.

He started his career on Wall Street as a commodities trader before joining Goldman in 1990.

Cohn accepted the then US President Trump's offer to run the National Economic Council in 2016.

Cohn left his post at the White House in 2018 after failing to convince Trump to forgo tariffs on steel and aluminum. Cohn and the outgoing president reportedly disagreed on numerous matters during his tenure, including Trump's response to a white nationalist demonstration at Charlottesville, Virginia.