REI exec confirmed as next interior secretary April 10, 2013 -- Updated 2211 GMT (0611 HKT) (CNN) -- The Senate, by an 87-11 vote Wednesday, confirmed Sally Jewell, top executive of outdoor gear company REI, as the next secretary of the interior. Jewell is considered an expert in energy and conservation issues and has a long history of involvement in the administration's environmental efforts. She helped create and implement the president's America's Great Outdoors program. Jewell served eight years at the head of REI. Before that, she worked in finance after starting her career as an engineer with Mobil Oil Corp. Ken Salazar announced in mid-January that he was stepping down from the interior post.