John Thompson

John Thompson is the CEO of Symantec. It has been rumored that Thompson may be under consideration for the position of Secretary of Commerce in the cabinet of President Barack Obama.KPIX (San Francisco): Obama Taps Symantec CEO For Commerce Secretary (January 27, 2009) New Hampshire Senator Judd Gregg has also been named as a potential appointee to the position.Huffington Post: Judd Gregg: Commerce Secretary? (January 29, 2009)

Thompson also served the previous administration, albeit in an advisory, rather than an official, capacity. In 2002, George W. Bush appointed him to National Infrastructure Advisory Committee (NIAC), which was established to advise the administration on ways to improve the security of the "critical infrastructure of the United States."Symantec: John W. Thompson

New Mexico governor Bill Richardson was nominated on December 3, 2008, for the position of commerce secretary by Barack Obama.CNN: Obama Nominates Richardson for Cabinet (December 3, 2008) However, on January 4, 2009, he announced he was withdrawing his name because of a pending investigation about a company that has done business with his state.MSNBC: Richardson to withdraw as commerce secretary (January 4, 2009)

"This is a great day for Silicon Valley and technology...In John Thompson....you have someone who is an excellent business leader, an ethical individual, and truly an engaged community citizen."—Carl Guardino, president and CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership GroupKPIX (San Francisco): Obama Taps Symantec CEO For Commerce Secretary (January 27, 2009)