Earlier this year, Jeffrey Zients, who was elected coronavirus chief of president-elect Joe Biden on Thursday, reportedly left Facebook due to differences with social media giant.
Previously, Politico reported on Biden’s decision to appoint Zients as his government’s COVID 19 chief of staff, according to people familiar with the matter.
The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this year that Zients would not seek reelection to the board of directors of Facebook. According to the newspaper, which quoted people familiar with the matter, Zients’ decision to leave the board of directors of Facebook came amid disagreements over how the social media platform handles misinformation.
However, Facebook stated that Zients’ resignation from the board was to “allow more time for his business and other professional interests.
According to the Journal, Zients said in a statement, “I wish Mark [Zuckerberg], the executive team and the dedicated Facebook employees all the best.
In addition to serving on Facebook’s board of directors, Zients was also director of the National Economic Council under President Barack Obama and assistant to the president for economic policy.
Prior to his time as Director of the National Economic Council, Zients served twice as Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). His first term of office in this capacity lasted from June to October 2010, followed by another term from January 2012 to April 2013.
Zients was confirmed as Deputy Director of the OMB by the Senate in 2009 and was later appointed Chief Performance Officer of the United States by Obama.
“I have appointed Jeffrey Zients, a leading CEO, management consultant and entrepreneur, as Deputy Director of Management of the Office of Management and Budget and as the first Chief Performance Officer,” Obama said in 2009. “Jeffrey Zients will work to streamline processes, reduce costs and identify best practices in our administration.
In 2013, Zients was recruited by Obama and then Chief of Staff Dennis McDonough to repair healthcare.gov after its flawed implementation.
Prior to his time under Obama’s administration, Zients served as Chief Executive Officer (1998-2000) and Chairman (2001-2004) of the Advisory Board Company and as Chief Executive Officer from 2000 to 2001.
Zients also founded Portfolio Logic LLC, a private investment firm focused on healthcare services, and served as managing partner.
He currently serves as CEO of Cranemere, a holding company known for “rejecting the debt-driven buying and selling of private equity and, like Buffett, doing it old-school – looking for value where others have missed it and investing for the long term,” according to the Washington Post.
In addition to Zients, Politico reported that Biden plans to make Vivek Murthy a U.S. surgeon general, a position he previously held under the Obama administration.
Washington Newsday asked Biden’s transition team to comment, but did not receive a response in time for publication.
