Former US Ambassador to South Africa Donald Gips has been appointed chairperson of the US Chamber of Commerce’s US-South Africa Business Council, a high-level platform for commercial engagement between the two countries.
Gips was nominated as ambassador by President Barack Obama and served in that capacity in Pretoria from June 2009 until January this year.
Prior to this diplomatic role, Gips was a leader on Obama’s Presidential Transition Team and worked as Chief Domestic Policy Advisor to Vice President Al Gore. Before entering government, he was head of corporate development at Level Communications and was a management consultant at McKinsey & Company.
The US Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than three-million businesses.
The US-South Africa Business Council seeks to advance policies that support trade with, and investment in, Africa.
Gips says he will use the position to work with the South African business community and government to explore growth and economic development opportunities that can benefit both countries.