Ronald Gidwitz | |
|---|---|
 official portrait, 2020 | |
| Acting United States Ambassador to the European Union | |
| In office May 4, 2020 – January 20, 2021 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Gordon Sondland |
| Succeeded by | Mark Gitenstein |
| United States Ambassador to Belgium | |
| In office July 4, 2018 – January 20, 2021 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Denise Bauer |
| Succeeded by | Nicholas Berliner (acting) |
| Chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education | |
| In office April 1999 – April 18, 2003 | |
| Appointed by | George Ryan |
| Preceded by | Lou Mervis[1] |
| Succeeded by | Janet Steiner[2][3] |
| Chairman of the Board of City Colleges of Chicago | |
| In office October 2, 1991 – 1999 | |
| Appointed by | Richard M. Daley |
| Preceded by | Reynaldo Glover |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 28, 1945 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent |
|
| Education | Brown University (BA) |
Ronald J. Gidwitz (born March 28, 1945) is an American businessman, diplomat, and political candidate who served as United States Ambassador to Belgium, while also serving as acting United States Ambassador to the European Union.[4][5]
Gidwitz is the son of prominent Chicago businessman Gerald Gidwitz. Gidwtiz served as president and CEO of Helene Curtis Industries, which was sold to Unilever in 1996. In 1998, Gidwitz co-founded the private equity firm GCG Partners, in which he served as a partner.
In terms of public-sector and political activities, in addition to serving as ambassador, Gidwitz held the positions of chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education from 1999 through 2003 and chairman of the Board of City Colleges of Chicago from 1991 through 1999. He ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for governor of Illinois in 2006. He served as the Illinois state chair for Rudy Giuliani's 2008 presidential campaign, the Illinois state finance chair for Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, and chaired both Kirk Dillard's unsuccessful 2010 Illinois gubernatorial campaign and Bruce Rauner's successful 2014 Illinois gubernatorial campaign. Gidwitz has also been involved with political advocacy organizations.
In addition to his private sector and political work, Gidwitz had been involved in philanthropic and nonprofit activities.
- ^ O'Connor, John (April 16, 1999). "Governor appoints members of state education board". Newspapers.com. Daily Republican-Register (Mount Carmel, Illinois). The Associated Press. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
- ^ "IASB School Board News Bulletin: May, 2003". archives.iasb.com. Illinois Association of School Boards. May 2003. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ "EAST ST. LOUIS BOARD OF EDUCATION AND ISBE JOIN TOGETHER". Illinois State Board of Education. June 9, 2004. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ U.S. Embassy in Belgium. "U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium Ronald J. Gidwitz". Archived from the original on June 11, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
- ^ Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State, Designation of Ambassador Ronald J. Gidwitz as Acting Representative of the United States to the European Union, press statement of the U.S. Department of State, May 4, 2020.