|
 O'Brien is currently vice chair of the Albright Stonebridge Group,
a strategic advisory firm. O'Brien worked at the State Department
from 1989 to 2001 in various positions, including senior advisor to
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, the White House said in a
statement on his appointment.
The hostage envoy position at the State Department was created after
the Obama administration undertook a six-month review of its policy
for handling hostage situations.
The review was spurred by complaints from families that their
initiatives to free relatives captured by terrorists abroad had been
discouraged and sometimes blocked by government officials. Following the completion of the review, Obama in June said the
government would pursue a more cooperative policy to allow the
officials to work with families.
The administration said it would appoint a special envoy to
coordinate the efforts of law enforcement and diplomats.
"In his new position, Jim will be focused on one overriding goal:
using diplomacy to secure the safe return of Americans held hostage
overseas," said Secretary of State John Kerry in a statement.
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Kerry said O'Brien will be in close contact with families and
foreign leaders and will help develop strategies for addressing
hostage situations with other U.S. policymakers.
(Reporting by Ayesha Rascoe; editing by Sandra Maler and Andrew Hay)
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