Billionaire Carl Icahn will advise US President-elect Donald Trump on rescinding what the activist investor called "excessive regulation" on US businesses, the president-elect's transition team have announced.
Icahn will serve as a special adviser, not a federal employee, and he will not have specific duties nor will he take a salary, Trump's team said in a statement on Wednesday.
The pick could draw scrutiny because Icahn, whose major investments include insurer American International Group and oil refining business CVR Energy, could help shape rules meant to police Wall Street and protect the environment.
In the transition team statement released on Wednesday, Icahn said it was time to "break free of excessive regulation" and let businesses create jobs.
Icahn, an early supporter of Trump's White House bid who has at times been outspoken about regulation, has already helped the transition team weigh candidates to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission. He has held meetings at his New York City office, not far from Trump Tower but away from reporters staked out there, people familiar with the talks said.
