Obama Car Czar Back in Detroit Balancing Union, Corporate Roots
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Ron Bloom is back in Detroit two years after helping run President Barack Obama’s auto-industry team. This time, he took one role defending the city’s workers and another that puts him at odds with carmaker employees.
Bloom, now a Lazard Ltd. vice chairman, was hired by Fiat SpA Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne to wrest concessions from a union health care fund that will help finance Chrysler’s takeover, according to people familiar with the matter. At the same time, Bloom is advising Detroit retirees fighting benefit cuts in the city’s $18 billion bankruptcy.