Google Hires Former White House Adviser For Its Policy Team

Google has hired Caroline Atkinson, a former adviser for the Obama administration, to serve as the lead on its global public policy team. Atkinson will begin in her role at Google starting in March, having stepped down from her role as deputy national security adviser at the White House in December. She will work for Google based out of Washington.

Atkinson first began her work with the Obama administration in 2011, and certainly isn't the first to leave the White House for employment with a tech company. Amazon, for example, nabbed then-press secretary Jay Carney in 2015, and Uber grabbed former adviser David Plouffe back in 2014.

Before her role at the White House, Atkinson worked as a journalist. She has also served as an official with the International Monetary Fund. At Google, Atkinson will be taking over for Rachel Whetstone, the Internet giant's former head of policy who jumped ship to Uber early last year.

Said Google's general counsel Kent Walker, "Caroline's an internationally respected diplomat and adviser, and we're delighted to have such a thoughtful leader heading our global public policy team." Once she starts, Atkinson will be tasked with easing antitrust worries in the EU, among other things.

SOURCE: New York Times