Businessman Jeffrey D. Zients was confirmed as President Barack Obama's chief performance officer, charged with improving government efficiency.

Zients was the founder and managing partner of Portfolio Logic, an investment firm in business and health care services. He also served as CEO and chairman of the Advisory Board Company and chairman of the Corporate Executive Board, companies that provide performance and best-practices benchmarks to various industries.

Zients was confirmed June 19, 2009. Obama named him after the first nominee, Nancy Killefer, withdrew over tax issues.

Zients also holds the title of deputy director for management in the White House's Office of Management and Budget. OMB director Peter Orszag said Zients will work with chief technology officer Aneesh Chopra and the chief information officer Vivek Kundra to improve the performance of the federal government.

We're interested to see more on how the performance team works, and for now leave this promise at In the Works.