Obama raids Google and Twitter for tech talent

IT SEEMS Barack Obama is just as enamoured with tech companies as everyone else. He’s just poached two high profile execs for his administration.

US President Barack Obama laughs with guests during a reception for NATO summit dignitaries in Newport, south Wales on September 4, 2014. The United States is preparing fresh sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine crisis in coordination with Brussels, which plans to announce further punitive measures on Friday, a White House official said. AFP PHOTO / MATT DUNHAM / POOL

US PRESIDENT Barack Obama has named executives from Google and Twitter to tops spots on his technology policy team.

The White House says Megan Smith will serve as chief technology officer in the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Smith will be responsible for guiding the administration’s information-technology policy and initiatives. She most recently was a vice president at Google.

Smith succeeds Todd Park, who was named to the top job in 2012.

Alexander Macgillivray will serve as Smith’s deputy and focus on internet and intellectual property policy, as well as privacy issues.

Macgillivray most recently was general counsel and head of public policy at Twitter.