"I think he's an excellent choice! Given the large complex bilateral relationships we have with both China and Russia, serving as the US ambassador to China is excellent training for Moscow," McFaul said. "Ambassador Huntsman's enormous private sector experience also will serve him well in this new position. Ambassador Huntsman is also a successful experienced politician, skills that will also help him succeed in Russia."
McFaul noted that the only unknown is Huntsman’s personal relationship with US President Donald Trump.
"For me, my close relationship with President Obama helped me enormously in formulating and implementing our policy towards Russia," he added.
On Tuesday, Trump officially announced the nomination of the former Utah governor to become the next US ambassador to Russia.
Huntsman was born on March 26, 1960 in the town of Palo Alto, the US State of California. Huntsman has served as the head of the US diplomatic mission to Singapore and China. From 1989 to 1990 Huntsman was the deputy assistant secretary of state in the Department of International Trade. In 2005-2009 he was the governor of Utah.
In the private sector he has headed a number of corporate executive boards including Hilton, Chevron, Ford Motor Company, and Caterpillar.
