President Obama Names Council Member Frederick Smith as Top CEO

In a February 9 interview with Bloomberg BusinessWeek, President Barack Obama named FedEx CEO Frederick Smith as a chief executive he admires. "He's an example of somebody who is thinking long term," the president said. 

Smith has been active in promoting trade and energy policies that encourage economic growth. He served on the Council on Competitiveness’ energy initiative steering committee and played an important in shaping the Council’s final recommendations published in Drive.

“His industry is deeply sensitive to energy prices," noted Obama, "and he’s the first one to say that if we don’t start getting an energy policy that’s smart, we’re going to lose in our competition.” 

Smith attended a luncheon with the president at the White House earlier this month with fellow Council members William Weldon of Johnson & Johnson and Microsoft's Steve Ballmer. 

Read Bloomberg BusinessWeek's article highlighting Obama's praise for Smith.