WASHINGTON, D.C. — In addition to retaining his role as senior adviser to the Secretary of Treasury for the President's Task Force on the Automotive Industry, President Obama announced Monday that Ron Bloom is also taking on the role as the administration's senior counselor for manufacturing policy.

According to the White House, Bloom will provide leadership on policy development and strategy planning for the president's agenda designed to "revitalize the manufacturing sector."

He will work with departments and agencies across the administration, including the Departments of Commerce, Treasury, Energy and Labor, to integrate existing programs and development new initiatives.

"Last week we learned that our manufacturing sectors expanded for the first time in 18 months and had the highest monthly output in two years. It's a sign that we're on the right track to economic recovery, but we still have a long way to go. That's why I've asked Ron Bloom to help coordinate my administration's manufacturing policy," said President Obama.

"Distinguished by his extraordinary service on the Auto Task Force and his extensive experience with both business and labor, Ron has the knowledge and experience necessary to lead the way in creating the good-paying manufacturing jobs of the future. We must do more to harness the power of American ingenuity and productivity so that we can put people back to work and unleash our full economic potential," President Obama continued.

Meanwhile, Bloom said, "A strong manufacturing sector is the cornerstone of American competitiveness and a critical part of President Obama's economic strategy. As we meet the challenges of globalization and technological change, it is vital to have a concerted effort across the administration to support an innovative, vibrant manufacturing sector."

Bloom has served as senior adviser to the secretary of the treasury on the Auto Task Force since February 2009. Prior to joining the Treasury Department, Bloom served as a special assistant to the president of the United Steelworkers Union where his responsibilities included the union's collective bargaining program in its core jurisdictions.

Before the Steelworkers, Bloom was one of the founding partners of Keilin and Bloom, an investment banking firm. And prior to this, he was the vice president at investment banking firm Lazard Freres & Co., where he specialized in analyzing, structuring and raising financing for union-led employee ownership transactions.

Commenting on the president's decision, General Motors released a statement Monday saying, "Manufacturing is essential to America's strength and economy and we applaud the president's appointment of Mr. Bloom to this important position. The president's recognition of Bloom's work is well-deserved. His leadership within the Auto Task Force helped GM emerge from its restructuring a more strong and viable company in record time.

"We're confident Mr. Bloom's counsel and expertise will also benefit U.S. manufacturing on a broader scale. GM looks forward to his continued leadership in this expanded role," the company continued.

Many may remember that Steve Rattner announced back in July he was leaving his role with the auto task force. Bloom replaced Rattner as head.

At that time, Treasury Secretary Geithner indicated in a statement, "With the emergence of both General Motors and Chrysler from bankruptcy, we enter a new phase of the government's unprecedented and temporary involvement in the automotive industry. I am very proud of the work done by the auto task force, under the leadership of Steven Rattner and Ron Bloom, to help oversee the efficient, fair and commercial restructuring of two great American companies."

Geithner went on to say, "Ron Bloom will assume leadership of the task force's activities as the government transitions its role away from day-to-day restructuring to monitoring this vital industry and protecting the substantial investment the American taxpayers have made in GM, Chrysler and GMAC."