Trump considers ex-Microsoft exec as top economic adviser: Official

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on the search to replace Gary Cohn as the White House National Economic Council director, the Trump administration's trade policy and sanctions on North Korea.

(Reuters) - Chris Liddell, a former executive at Microsoft Corp and General Motors Co, is under consideration to become U.S. President Donald Trump's top economic adviser, a White House official said on Sunday, confirming media reports.

Trump is searching for a new director for the White House National Economic Council after Gary Cohn, a former Goldman Sachs president, said he would resign. Cohn's decision came after Trump decided to put tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.

Peter Navarro, a trade adviser to Trump who promoted the tariffs, has also been touted as a candidate for the top economic job, though he has said he is not in the running. Conservative commentator Larry Kudlow has also been cited as a contender.

Liddell's background running major companies and his behind-the-scenes efficiency at the White House has made him an attractive candidate, the official said.

Liddell, 59, has earned respect at the White House for his work on projects like information technology modernization and electronic health records, which have required intensive coordination with government agencies, the official said.

(Reporting by Roberta Rampton in Washington and Scott DiSavino in New York; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)