President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Mark Burnett as the special envoy to the United Kingdom.

On Saturday, Trump announced Burnett’s appointment. Burnett, known for producing “The Apprentice,” has received multiple Emmy Awards for his work. His portfolio also includes popular shows like “The Voice,” “Shark Tank,” and he has been an executive producer for “Survivor” and “Are You Smarter than a Celebrity?”

According to Trump’s post on Truth Social, Burnett will aim to strengthen diplomatic ties with the UK, particularly focusing on trade, investment, and cultural exchanges.

Trump expressed his pride in appointing Burnett, stating, “Mark’s impressive background in television and his business expertise will provide a valuable perspective in this essential position.”

Burnett is the latest television figure to join Trump’s administration, following his appointments of former Fox News host Pete Hegseth as defense secretary and TV personality Dr. Mehmet Oz for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The specifics of Burnett’s envoy role are not fully defined, as Trump previously appointed businessman Warren Stephens as ambassador to the UK.

At 64 years old, Burnett was born in London and has been influential in Trump’s rise to the presidency.

Many people became familiar with Trump through the acclaimed NBC reality show, which he hosted for 14 seasons. In a conversation with journalist Ramin Setoodeh, author of the book “Apprentice in Wonderland: How Donald Trump and Mark Burnett Took America Through the Looking Glass,” Trump remarked that he was initially unknown to many. He credited Burnett and producer Jeff Zucker for the image that helped him become president, stating that Burnett believes The Apprentice was pivotal in his political rise.

Trump noted, “The audience didn’t truly know me. Mark Burnett and Jeff Zucker are instrumental figures who receive either praise or criticism for my path to the presidency. Burnett claims that without ‘The Apprentice,’ I wouldn’t have reached this position.”

Burnett, who previously served as chairman of MGM Worldwide Television Group, has generally kept quiet about his connection with Trump and did not address it in a detailed profile published in The New Yorker in 2019.

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Burnett stated he would not release any outtakes from “The Apprentice,” addressing rumors about potentially damaging material similar to the infamous “Access Hollywood” recordings where Trump made controversial remarks about women.

Burnett expressed concerns over misleading media reports at the time, stating, “I want to make some things clear. I have never supported Donald Trump’s candidacy. I do not endorse him, and my wife and I reject the division and negativity that has surrounded his campaign.”

On a related note, Britain has appointed Peter Mandelson as its new ambassador to the U.S., focusing on fostering positive relations with Trump, preventing a trade conflict, and aligning both nations’ positions on Ukraine.

Burnett conveyed his excitement about serving as the Special Envoy to the UK, saying, “It is a true privilege to represent The United States and President Trump in this role.”

Recently, Trump appointed Lt. General Keith Kellogg as Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia and Richard Grenell, his former ambassador to Germany, as his envoy for special missions.

Contributing: Reuters.