Merrill Lynch names Harold Ford vice chairman

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. annouced Wednesday former congressman Harold E. Ford will join the firm as vice chairman and senior policy advisor, effective March 5.

Ford, 36, will advise senior management on domestic policy issues and serve as a member of the company's public policy and social responsibility management committee, and support a number of business development initiatives, the firm said.

Ford, who was elected to Congress in 1996 at age 26, served five terms. He sat on the House Budget Committee and the House Committee on Financial Services.

Earlier this year, Ford was elected chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council, the progressive policy and issues advocacy organization.

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