Some notes on President Biden's covid response coordinator, Jeffrey Zients.

Summary: Zients is an extremely wealthy businessperson, Biden campaign bundler, and former govt official and liaison to the business community under Obama. He is well-regarded by business executives.
After the November 3rd election, Zients served on Biden's transition team and corresponded with governors and state officials regarding the pandemic. In early December he was named as Biden's covid coordinator.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-biden-zients/biden-pick-for-covid-19-czar-faces-daunting-task-of-pandemic-response-idUSKBN28D1FZ
The position gives Zients "oversight of everything being done across the federal government to tackle the virus, including deciding travel restrictions and managing the vaccine supply chain." His role has been "to revamp the entire pandemic response.." https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-01-20/joe-biden-jeff-zients-covid-19-crisis
Jeff Zients, the ‘Mr. Fix It’ Biden put in charge of tackling the COVID-19 crisis

The former management consultant is tasked by President Joe Biden to overhaul vaccination program.

https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-01-20/joe-biden-jeff-zients-covid-19-crisis
According to recent comments by Dr. Fauci, Zients appears to be Biden's regular contact regarding covid information, and he updates the president "continually."
About Zients: He attended St Albans School and Duke. He then worked as a management consultant for Bain & Co. Following that he helped run two companies. As of 2012 his net worth was estimated at $200 million. In 2009 he joined the Obama administration.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303644004577523071816686902
At a time when the unemployment rate stood at 9%, higher than it had been in over 25 years, Zients was reportedly inspired to enter public service out of concern about the national debt.
https://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2010/06/14/OMBs-Zients-Cuts-Through-the-Red-Tape
One of Zients' roles in the Obama administration was liaison to the business community. The idea was that Zients could use his relationships and credibility with business executives to win support for the president's agenda.

* https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/jeff-zients-was-with-obama-for-the-long-haul--and-now-hes-going-long-in-investing/2018/05/11/baadb1aa-5312-11e8-9c91-7dab596e8252_story.html
* https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/jeff-zients-helped-salvage-healthcaregov-now-hell-be-obamas-go-to-guy-on-economy/2013/12/22/3ebf38a4-6986-11e3-8b5b-a77187b716a3_story.html
One of Zients' roles in the Obama administration was liaison to the business community. The idea was that Zients could use his relationships and credibility with business executives to win support for the president's agenda.* https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/jeff-zients-was-with-obama-for-the-long-haul--and-now-hes-going-long-in-investing/2018/05/11/baadb1aa-5312-11e8-9c91-7dab596e8252_story.html* https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/jeff-zients-helped-salvage-healthcaregov-now-hell-be-obamas-go-to-guy-on-economy/2013/12/22/3ebf38a4-6986-11e3-8b5b-a77187b716a3_story.html
One of Zients' roles in the Obama administration was liaison to the business community. The idea was that Zients could use his relationships and credibility with business executives to win support for the president's agenda.* https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/jeff-zients-was-with-obama-for-the-long-haul--and-now-hes-going-long-in-investing/2018/05/11/baadb1aa-5312-11e8-9c91-7dab596e8252_story.html* https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/jeff-zients-helped-salvage-healthcaregov-now-hell-be-obamas-go-to-guy-on-economy/2013/12/22/3ebf38a4-6986-11e3-8b5b-a77187b716a3_story.html
Zients won praise from many CEOs, including two leaders of the Business Roundtable and a president of the US Chamber of Commerce.

* https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303644004577523071816686902
* https://www.politico.com/blogs/politico44/2013/01/business-group-likes-pritzker-zients-for-cabinet-posts-155784
* https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/jeff-zients-was-with-obama-for-the-long-haul--and-now-hes-going-long-in-investing/2018/05/11/baadb1aa-5312-11e8-9c91-7dab596e8252_story.htm
Zients won praise from many CEOs, including two leaders of the Business Roundtable and a president of the US Chamber of Commerce.* https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303644004577523071816686902* https://www.politico.com/blogs/politico44/2013/01/business-group-likes-pritzker-zients-for-cabinet-posts-155784* https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/jeff-zients-was-with-obama-for-the-long-haul--and-now-hes-going-long-in-investing/2018/05/11/baadb1aa-5312-11e8-9c91-7dab596e8252_story.htm
Zients won praise from many CEOs, including two leaders of the Business Roundtable and a president of the US Chamber of Commerce.* https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303644004577523071816686902* https://www.politico.com/blogs/politico44/2013/01/business-group-likes-pritzker-zients-for-cabinet-posts-155784* https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/jeff-zients-was-with-obama-for-the-long-haul--and-now-hes-going-long-in-investing/2018/05/11/baadb1aa-5312-11e8-9c91-7dab596e8252_story.htm
Zients won praise from many CEOs, including two leaders of the Business Roundtable and a president of the US Chamber of Commerce.* https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303644004577523071816686902* https://www.politico.com/blogs/politico44/2013/01/business-group-likes-pritzker-zients-for-cabinet-posts-155784* https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/jeff-zients-was-with-obama-for-the-long-haul--and-now-hes-going-long-in-investing/2018/05/11/baadb1aa-5312-11e8-9c91-7dab596e8252_story.htm
During a 2015 Business Roundtable event with President Obama, the CEO of AT&T singled out Zients and then-US Trade Representative Michael Froman for praise for their work on Trade Promotion Authority.
https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2015/09/16/remarks-president-business-roundtable
Some of Zients' popularity might come from his focus on serving business leaders.

"Mr. Zients told executives at a 2014 event at the Economic Club of Washington, 'You are the customers, all of you as business leaders, in terms of growing the economy.' " https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/01/us/politics/biden-staff-business-zients.html
Biden Faces a Balancing Act in Choosing Top Aides With Business Ties

Jeffrey Zients, a candidate to lead the administration’s coronavirus response team, is arousing resistance from some progressive Democrats.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/01/us/politics/biden-staff-business-zients.html
White House visitor logs indicate that Zients was indeed the primary contact for business executives, with a number of visits second only to Valerie Jarrett.

A study suggests these visits provided tangible benefits to firms.

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/05/08/why-trump-white-house-visitors-logs-should-public-215116/

https://www.nber.org/papers/w23356 
White House visitor logs indicate that Zients was indeed the primary contact for business executives, with a number of visits second only to Valerie Jarrett. A study suggests these visits provided tangible benefits to firms. https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/05/08/why-trump-white-house-visitors-logs-should-public-215116/ https://www.nber.org/papers/w23356 
White House visitor logs indicate that Zients was indeed the primary contact for business executives, with a number of visits second only to Valerie Jarrett. A study suggests these visits provided tangible benefits to firms. https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/05/08/why-trump-white-house-visitors-logs-should-public-215116/ https://www.nber.org/papers/w23356 
Zients' best known achievement was leading a three month effort to fix http://Healthcare.gov . Reporting in NY Times suggests that the administration exaggerated the scale of the effort and that Zients presented metrics but didn't define clear goals.

https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/01/us/politics/inside-the-race-to-rescue-a-health-site-and-obama.html
Zients' best known achievement was leading a three month effort to fix http://Healthcare.gov . Reporting in NY Times suggests that the administration exaggerated the scale of the effort and that Zients presented metrics but didn't define clear goals. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/01/us/politics/inside-the-race-to-rescue-a-health-site-and-obama.html
Zients' best known achievement was leading a three month effort to fix http://Healthcare.gov . Reporting in NY Times suggests that the administration exaggerated the scale of the effort and that Zients presented metrics but didn't define clear goals. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/01/us/politics/inside-the-race-to-rescue-a-health-site-and-obama.html
After the Obama administration, Zients formed a private investment group that holds close to $1 billion and includes 21 shareholders consisting of "wealthy families, institutions and sovereign wealth funds."
He donated at least $1 million to the Obama Foundation.
https://www.obama.org/contributors/ 

He joined the board of Facebook from May 2018 to May 2020. https://about.fb.com/news/2018/05/zients-joins-facebook-board/
Jeff Zients Joins Facebook Board of Directors - About Facebook

Facebook today announced that Jeff Zients, the CEO of Cranemere, has been appointed to the company’s board of directors and audit committee, effective May 31, 2018, immediately following Facebook’s...

https://www.obama.org/contributors/
In November 2019, Zients and former US Trade Representative / current MasterCard executive Michael Froman hosted a large fundraiser for Biden at Zients' home.

https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/04/obama-alums-dc-biden-fundraiser-065567
Biden's choice of Zients as his covid response coordinator was praised by the CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers, CEO of Business Roundtable and former chief of staff to President George W. Bush, and Kathleen Sebelius, Obama's first HHS Secretary.
Biden's choice of Zients as his covid response coordinator was praised by the CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers, CEO of Business Roundtable and former chief of staff to President George W. Bush, and Kathleen Sebelius, Obama's first HHS Secretary.
Biden's choice of Zients as his covid response coordinator was praised by the CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers, CEO of Business Roundtable and former chief of staff to President George W. Bush, and Kathleen Sebelius, Obama's first HHS Secretary.
Biden's choice of Zients as his covid response coordinator was praised by the CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers, CEO of Business Roundtable and former chief of staff to President George W. Bush, and Kathleen Sebelius, Obama's first HHS Secretary.
Zients has now had over two months coordinating with Governors before the inauguration and over three weeks since Biden took office, how is the response going? What has changed? How aggressive is the effort to control transmission? Whose interests are being prioritized?
According to Zients, they are currently doing everything possible. "We're at war with this virus." "Every is on the table. We'll use every lever we have." We'll "overwhelm the problem."
According to Zients, they are currently doing everything possible. "We're at war with this virus." "Every is on the table. We'll use every lever we have." We'll "overwhelm the problem."
According to Zients, they are currently doing everything possible. "We're at war with this virus." "Every is on the table. We'll use every lever we have." We'll "overwhelm the problem."
According to Zients, they are currently doing everything possible. "We're at war with this virus." "Every is on the table. We'll use every lever we have." We'll "overwhelm the problem."
They are making headway on vaccinations, but many of those at highest risk - in prisons, shelters, in-person workplaces, crowded housing - have seen little help in recent weeks. In many ways, the approach appears to be a more organized continuation of the Trump Administration.
According to Bloomberg, "Zients and [his deputy] often keep such a tight hold on information that health experts who brief the president don’t always have the latest on data or efforts, according to three people familiar with the internal discussions." https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-03/biden-s-covid-czar-could-define-early-months-of-his-presidency
Biden Covid Czar Could Define Early Months of His Presidency

Two weeks after Joe Biden became president, his administration announced its biggest breakthrough yet in distributing Covid-19 vaccines. But Biden didn’t share the good news himself.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-03/biden-s-covid-czar-could-define-early-months-of-his-presidency
The article notes that Dr. Fauci disputes that claim.
Last Friday Zients met with CEOs of major airlines who opposed the use of covid testing for domestic travel. CDC Director Walensky indicated that tests may be useful. But after Zients' meeting the CDC announced testing for domestic travel was not required.
https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/covid-19-testing-wont-be-required-before-domestic-flights-cdc-says-11613183533
Last Friday Zients met with CEOs of major airlines who opposed the use of covid testing for domestic travel. CDC Director Walensky indicated that tests may be useful. But after Zients' meeting the CDC announced testing for domestic travel was not required. https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/covid-19-testing-wont-be-required-before-domestic-flights-cdc-says-11613183533
Last Friday Zients met with CEOs of major airlines who opposed the use of covid testing for domestic travel. CDC Director Walensky indicated that tests may be useful. But after Zients' meeting the CDC announced testing for domestic travel was not required. https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/covid-19-testing-wont-be-required-before-domestic-flights-cdc-says-11613183533
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