Bryson selects as Commerce secretary

"Mr. Bryson will play a key role as a member of the president's economic team, bringing decades of knowledge and experience in the public and private sectors, and will provide valuable ideas and initiatives to strengthen America's competitiveness around the world," a White House official said.

"Mr. Bryson will continue the (Commerce) Department's mission to drive U.S. competitiveness in the global marketplace, strengthen the international economic position of the United States and facilitate global trade by opening up new markets for U.S. goods and services."

Bryson's appointment continues a White House trend of nominating senior business executives to top government posts.

Obama had rocky relations with the business community during his first two years in office. He tried to repair that after last November's congressional elections, beginning with his choice of former banker Bill Daley to be his chief of staff. Daley, a former Commerce secretary under President Bill Clinton, led the search process for Bryson.

Bryson was chairman and chief executive of energy group Edison International from 1990 to 2008. He serves on several corporate boards, including Boeing Co and Walt Disney Co, according to the White House official.

Copyright Reuters, 2011