As he prepares to take office, President-elect Barack Obama is relying on a small team of advisers who will lead his transition operation and help choose the members of a new Obama administration. Following is part of a series of profiles of potential members of the administration.

Name: Timothy F. Geithner

Chosen for: Mr. Obama nominated Mr. Geithner to be Treasury secretary.

Will bring to the job: As president of the New York Federal Reserve since 2003, Mr. Geithner has straddled Wall Street and Washington as a central player in trying to resolve the most significant financial crisis in more than 60 years. He would bring a deep understanding of Wall Street and a close working relationship with Ben S. Bernanke, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, his partner in the $700 million bailout, along with Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr.

Though not an economist, Mr. Geithner has a deep understanding of monetary and fiscal policy and broad experience in international trade issues. Before the current crisis, he was involved in the bailouts of Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Brazil and Thailand. Although he served in the Clinton administration, he is not viewed as partisan and enjoys good relations with both Democrats and Republicans in Congress.

Is linked to Obama by: Robert E. Rubin and Lawrence H. Summers, two former Clinton treasury secretaries who have been advising the Obama campaign. Mr. Geithner was an aide to both men. Paul Volcker, the former Fed chairman who is also advising Mr. Obama, was on the committee that selected Mr. Geithner for his current job.