CHICAGO -- President-elect Barack Obama has tapped New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson to be Secretary of Commerce.
Obama said he is confident that Richardson will help move the country in the right direction.
Richardson, the first Hispanic person Obama has named to his Cabinet, said he was happy and proud to take the job and delivered part of his acceptance speech in Spanish.
President-elect Barack Obama has tapped New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson to be Secretary of Commerce.
"The unique strengths of the department and its talented public servants make it the natural agency to serve as the programmatic nerve center in America's struggle to rejuvenate the economy," said Richardson.
"To help American businesses grow and thrive at home and expand our efforts to expand out American enterprise around the world, this work is the core mission of the Secretary of Commerce," said Obama. "And with his breadth and experience in public life, Governor Richardson is uniquely suited for this role as a leading economic diplomat for America."
Richardson was an energy secretary and a U.N. ambassador in the Clinton administration.
He sought the Democratic presidential nomination but dropped out of the race in January following the New Hampshire primary.