Alcoa hires new executive to be government liaison

NEW YORK -- Aluminum maker Alcoa Inc. has hired a new executive to work with lawmakers and regulators.

The company announced Monday that Michelle O'Neill will serve as Alcoa's vice president of government affairs and trade policy. In that role, O'Neill will coordinate Alcoa's communications with federal and state government from Alcoa's office in Washington. She will also assume responsibility for communication Alcoa's international trade policies.

O'Neill has spent the past seven years as deputy undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade, where she oversaw the operations of the International Trade Administration. The agency had a $500 million annual budget and about 2,200 employees.

O'Neill will start work for New York-based Alcoa on Aug. 20.