Google CEO Eyed as Commerce Secretary

The Obama administration is considering naming Google CEO Eric Schmidt as commerce secretary, sources tell BusinessWeek. Pfizer CEO Jeffrey Kindler and current US trade representative Ron Kirk are also reportedly in the running. Current Commerce Secretary Gary Locke is being nominated to be US ambassador to China. Presidents often look to corporate America to fill the post, and the Obama administration is particularly interested now in seeking to quell criticism from business leaders on regulation and health care.

The White House did not confirm candidates under consideration. “The president will consider a range of qualified candidates, but we are at a very early stage in the process and no decisions have been made,” said a spokeswoman. (More Google stories.)