Apple has signed Nate Gatten to become its new head of government affairs, a move that could help the company work more with the Trump administration.
Apple is undergoing several changes in the short term, in preparation for the CEO transition from Tim Cook to John Ternus on September 1. One day before the switch, Apple will be installing a new vice president.
According to a memo from SVP and General Counsel Jennifer Newstead seen by Bloomberg, Nate Gatten will be taking over as vice president of Government Affairs. Gatten will take the role on August 31, the memo states.
Current head of government affairs Nick Ammann will move down the corporate ladder one rung and report to Gatten. Tim Powderly, Matt Brown, and Mike Orgill will also report to Gatten.
Kate Adams, previously the legal chief, will be in an advisory role until her retirement on October 1.
Gatten comes from American Airlines Group, where he held the same role for almost a decade. Previously, he led the global government relations and policy teams at JPMorgan Chase.
Newstead describes Gatten as a “thoughtful, strategic leader with deep experience navigating complex policy environments.”
As a Republican, people familiar with the decision to hire Gatten say he will hopefully align with the Trump administration. While at Fannie Mae, he also oversaw a team that worked with Republican members of Congress, which is a seemingly similar situation.
It’s not just a political play by Apple. Gatten’s previous experience in real estate may also be a bonus as Apple expands its operations with new stores and offices.
This story originally appeared on Appleinsider
