Obama names Washington businessman as chief performance officer

[The Straight Story]

Obama names Washington businessman as chief performance officer

President Obama on Saturday named a Washington-area entrepreneur and management consultant as the government's first chief performance officer.

Jeffrey Zients also will serve as deputy director for management at the Office of Management and Budget, Obama said during his April 18 radio address. A multimillionaire who made his money as a management consultant, Zients currently runs Portfolio Logic, a firm that invests in business services and health care companies.

"Jeffrey will work to streamline processes, cut costs, and find best practices throughout our government," Obama said.

The president focused his address on government efficiency and accountability. He said he will ask department heads during their first full Cabinet meeting next week for specific proposals on cutting their budgets.

"Already, members of my Cabinet have begun to trim back unnecessary expenditures," Obama said, citing Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Defense Secretary Robert Gates as examples.

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