US President-elect Donald Trump has nominated ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson as the Secretary of State, TASS news agency reported on Tuesday.

«His tenacity, broad experience and deep understanding of geopolitics make him an excellent choice for Secretary of State,» Trump said in a statement.

I have chosen one of the truly great business leaders of the world, Rex Tillerson, Chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil, to be Secretary of State.

Trump voiced hope that Tillerson «will promote regional stability and focus on the core national security interests of the United States.»

In comments to Tillerson’s possible nomination, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that he expects that the new US Secretary of State will show professionalism and a constructive attitude, regardless of who will hold office.

The Kremlin spokesman said that Tillerson is known in Moscow. As the CEO of one of the world’s largest oil companies, he had contacts with Russian representatives many times.

He stressed that Tillerson’s good relation to Russia as a businessman and as a potential Secretary of State is a completely different thing. «This is a big difference — being the Secretary of State and being the head of even a very big company and that’s why any sympathies certainly recede into the background.»

Asked why the CEO of ExxonMobil was awarded Russia’s Order of Friendship, the spokesman said this award is traditionally given for an activity in developing cooperation in any particular area and contribution to the development of good international relations.

Peskov recalled that Russian President Vladimir Putin has held business meetings with Tillerson and his partners several times.

The Kremlin spokesman stressed that Moscow seeks «mutually beneficial and equal cooperation in those areas that are interesting for our countries.»