Who Is William Hagerty? Trump's Pick For US Envoy To Japan Is Tennessee Businessman, Reports Say

Tennessee businessman William Hagerty is President-elect Donald Trump’s likely pick for U.S. envoy to Japan, reports said Wednesday citing sources familiar with the matter. If officially confirmed, Hagerty will succeed Caroline Kennedy who has been the country’s ambassador to Japan since 2013.

The news of Trump’s potential pick was first reported by Japan’s Nikkei news service, which cited “a key member of his [Trump’s] transition team.” The report added that Hagerty may have requested for this particular job.

A Reuters report, citing an adviser to Trump’s transition team, confirmed that the president-elect plans on picking Hagerty for the position.

The Nashville native, who founded the private equity firm Hagerty Peterson, has spent several years in Japan during his time with the business consulting firm, Boston Consulting Group. His responsibilities included managing the firm’s western clients in Japan and other parts of Asia.

He was later tapped for policy adviser during the George H. W. Bush administration. He was also part of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign.

During his time as commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development from 2011 to 2014, the 57-year-old helped carve several deals between the state and Japanese companies like CalsonicKansei and Nissan. Hagerty has reportedly been under consideration as a possible GOP candidate for the Tennessee governor job in 2018.

Hagerty initially supported Jeb Bush in the presidential primaries last year before joining Trump’s team. He joined the real estate mogul’s team as the Tennessee finance chairman for the Trump Victory Committee. Soon after 70-year-old’s election win, Hagerty joined the Trump transition team as director of presidential appointments.

If confirmed by the Senate, Hagerty will be the second Tennessean to serve as the country’s envoy to Japan.