Donald Trump has appointed British producer Mark Burnett, who launched the president-elect to worldwide fame with “The Apprentice,” as a particular envoy to the UK.

“It’s my nice honor to nominate Mark Burnett because the Particular Envoy to the UK,” Trump wrote on Reality Social, his private social media platform. “With a distinguished profession in tv manufacturing and enterprise, Mark brings a singular mix of diplomatic acumen and worldwide recognition to this vital position.”

Burnett helped launch Trump as a media determine on the worldwide stage with the success of the competitors actuality collection “The Apprentice,” which ran on NBC from 2004 to 2016 with Trump operating the present from the boardroom of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue.

In asserting the appointment, Trump highlighted Burnett’s 13 profession Emmy wins and several other of his credit, including that he’s “recognized for creating and producing a few of the largest exhibits in Tv Historical past, together with ‘Survivor,’ ‘Shark Tank,’ ‘The Voice’ and, most notably, ‘The Apprentice.’”

“Mark will proceed to reinforce diplomatic relations,” Trump continued. “Specializing in areas of mutual curiosity, together with commerce, funding alternatives, and cultural exchanges. Congratulations Mark!”

Burnett, one in every of TV’s most profitable producers of the previous three a long time, largely stayed at arm’s size from Trump throughout his first time period in workplace, when Trump’s excessive insurance policies and harsh rhetoric sparked fast opposition in Hollywood’s artistic group the place Burnett must work with a variety of creatives. Burnett’s appointment is one other signal that Trump in his second time period appears prone to face much less of an organized resistance from Hollywood liberals. All through Trump’s first presidential marketing campaign and time period in workplace, Burnett confronted periodic bursts of public stress to launch outtakes from Trump’s many seasons on “The Apprentice” amid hypothesis and allegations that Trump had made disturbing feedback about girls and folks of shade.

The appointment additionally comes at a time when Burnett is between chapters. He exited MGM in 2022 after Amazon accomplished its acquisition of the studio. Burnett offered his One Three Media firm to MGM, together with his stakes in NBC’s “The Voice,” CBS’ “Survivor,” ABC’s “Shark Tank” and extra, in two transactions in 2014 and 2015 that netted him upwards of $100 million. After that, Burnett grew to become chairman of MGM Tv at the same time as he remained an lively producer of his personal initiatives.

Trump already pegged funding banker Warren Stephens as the US ambassador to the UK in early December. Though each are diplomats, Burnett’s position as envoy is a specialised place designated for particular transactions and negotiations. Stephens, as ambassador, has a extra everlasting place and can act as the principle level of communication between the U.Okay. and the U.S..

“I’m actually honored to serve The USA of America and President Trump as his Particular Envoy to the UK,” stated Burnett by way of a spokesperson.

(Cynthia Littleton contributed to this report.)