Donald Gips

Donald Gips
Official photo of Gips c.2009
United States Ambassador to South Africa
In office
October 1, 2009 – January 2, 2013
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byEric M. Bost
Succeeded byPatrick Gaspard
Personal details
Born (1960-02-01) February 1, 1960 (age 64)
SpouseElizabeth Berry Gips
ChildrenSam, Peter, Ben
Alma materPrinceton Day School
Harvard College
Yale School of Management.
OccupationCEO, Skoll Foundation

Donald Henry Gips (born February 1, 1960) is the CEO of the Skoll Foundation. He is a former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa from 2009 to 2013. Ambassador Gips was appointed by President Barack Obama on June 4 and confirmed by the Senate on July 7, 2009. He presented his credentials to South African President Jacob Zuma on October 1, 2009. He served until January 2, 2013.[1][2]

In February 2019,[3] Gips was announced as the incoming CEO of the Skoll Foundation, taking over for the retired Sally Osberg. He began as CEO on April 9, 2019, at the annual Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship.

Previously he was a principal at Albright Stonebridge Group, a global strategic advisory firm.[4] He also leads the firm's Africa practice.

Previously he was the Divisional Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Development for Level 3 Communications[5] and Director of Mindspeed Technologies. He was also on the advisory board for President Barack Obama's presidential transition team.[6]

In the late 1990s Gips served as Vice President Al Gore's Chief Domestic Policy Advisor.[7] Previously, he was the chief of the Federal Communications Commission's international bureau.[5]

He is married to Elizabeth Berry and has three children: Sam, Peter and Ben.

Gips is a graduate of Princeton Day School, Harvard College, and the Yale School of Management.

  1. ^ "Donald Gips". African Leadership Academy. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
  2. ^ "South Africa - Chiefs of Mission - People - Department History - Office of the Historian". history.state.gov. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
  3. ^ "Former Obama Administration Official to Lead Skoll Foundation". The Chronicle of Philanthropy. 2019-02-12. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
  4. ^ "About Us | Albright Stonebridge Group". Archived from the original on March 6, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Podesta, Genachowski Join Obama Transition Team". Archived from the original on 2008-11-08. Retrieved 2008-11-06.
  6. ^ "Obama Names Transition Team". Archived from the original on 2008-12-08. Retrieved 2008-11-06.
  7. ^ "Vice President Gore Names Donald Gips Domestic Policy Adviser". Retrieved 2008-11-06.[dead link]