Advisor named for upcoming Summit of the Americas

President Barack Obama has named a former ambassador to Mexico and Venezuela as White House advisor for the upcoming Summit of the Americas.

Ambassador Jeffrey Davidow will oversee preparations for Obama's participation in next month's summit and, along with the Department of State, will help manage summit-related diplomacy in the region.

Davidow has taken a leave of absence from his position as president of the Institute of the Americas at the University of California at San Diego in order to serve as advisor. A career Foreign Service Officer for 34 years, Davidow was Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs and ambassador to Mexico, Venezuela and Zambia, in addition to serving in several other posts in Latin America and Africa before retiring in 2003.

The White House said last month that Obama plans to attend the Summit of the Americas to be held in Trinidad and Tobago April 17-19.

''The president is looking forward to discussions with the leaders at the summit and to promoting a partnership based on mutual respect that will be beneficial to the people of the Americas,'' the White House said as it announced Davidow's appointment.