July 31 (Reuters) - Wall Street heavyweight Goldman

Sachs ( GS ) has appointed veteran Michael Thompson as the

global head of the office of government and regulatory affairs,

according to an internal memo seen by Reuters.

Thompson will succeed Michael Paese, who will retire from

the partnership at the end of 2025 and become a senior advisor

to Goldman.

"He's (Paese) a brilliant strategic mind, always focused on

the bigger picture. His contributions not only advanced our

organization's interests but inspired all of us to aim higher,"

Goldman executive vice president John Rogers said.

In his new role, Thompson will lead Goldman's efforts on key

public policy and regulatory issues domestically and

internationally.

Goldman's office of government and regulatory affairs works

to advance the bank's interests with governments and regulators

around the world.

Thompson joined Goldman in 2010 as a vice president and

became managing director in 2011. He currently serves as the

head of the office of government and regulatory affairs in the

U.S.

Before Goldman, Thompson had worked for mortgage giant

Fannie Mae for four years. He also worked for a Republican

congressman and two senators, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Goldman is also promoting Kyle Russ as the global head of

prudential policy and strategy as well as Ryan Jachym to run

markets policy, the memo showed.

Bloomberg News had earlier reported Paese and Thompson's

moves.