Josette Sheeran | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Executive Director of the World Food Programme | |
| In office April 4, 2007 – April 5, 2012 | |
| Secretary General | Ban Ki-moon |
| Preceded by | James Morris |
| Succeeded by | Ertharin Cousin |
| 16th Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business, and Agricultural Affairs | |
| In office August 23, 2005 – April 4, 2007 | |
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Alan Larson |
| Succeeded by | Reuben Jeffery III |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Orange, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Whitney Shiner (deceased) |
| Education | University of Colorado, Boulder (BA) |
Ambassador Josette Sheeran (born 12 June) is a decorated diplomat, humanitarian, entrepreneur and technology leader.
She served in the United States Department of State as Under Secretary of State for Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice covering Economic Growth, Energy, Technology, Agriculture and the Environment, with the rank of Ambassador. She served as Ambassador and Deputy U.S. Trade Representative under President George Bush, covering all Asia, Africa and Intellectual Property, Technology and Agriculture from 2001-2005.
She currently serves as founder and CEO of Firefly Global Group, a geopolitical and business consulting firm, supporting founders and accelerating new technologies which enhance national and human security.
Sheeran served as the seventh president and CEO of Asia Society from 2013 to 2020. Sheeran was also the United Nations's Special Envoy for Haiti, successfully leading efforts to end a devastating cholera epidemic there.[1]
Sheeran is former Vice Chair of the World Economic Forum.[2] While there, she helped found and advance global initiatives encompassing global, regional, and industry agendas such as Grow Africa, launching new technologies and attracting over $300 million in private sector investment to end aid dependency and tackle hunger and malnutrition in Africa.
She was the eleventh Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), appointed by United Nations Secretary-General, leading the world’s biggest humanitarian supply chains delivering over 20 billion meals a year to war and disaster zones. In the role she introduced the first block chain to deliver food and cash to war zones such as Syria, and successfully negotiated access into Somalia, North Korea and Libya. Kofi Annan in November 2006.[3] The World Food Program was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.
Sheeran served as the seventh president and CEO of Asia Society from 2013 to 2020. Sheeran was also the United Nations's Special Envoy for Haiti, successfully leading efforts to end a devastating cholera epidemic there.[1]
Sheeran served as a diplomat and negotiator for the United States, and was unanimously confirmed by the Senate twice. She was appointed coordinator of the Pakistan earthquake response by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and developed economic recovery plans for front line areas in Pakistan, Afghanistan and beyond. She has served on the boards of OPIC, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation; US Representative to UNESCO, as well as the lead U.S. representative to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the OECD.
On July 26, 2021 she was appointed President[4] of Canoo (NASDAQ: GOEV) an electric vehicle startup based in Los Angeles with manufacturing facilities in Oklahoma City, OK.
- ^ a b "Secretary-General Appoints Josette Sheeran of United States as Special Envoy for Haiti". United Nations.
- ^ "WFP Executive Director Assumes Role At World Economic Forum". World Food Programme.
- ^ American diplomat Josette Sheeran selected to head U.N. World Food Program, U.N. announces, International Herald Tribune, November 7, 2006 (Associated Press item)
- ^ "Electric car startup Canoo names former diplomat as president". Reuters. 2021-07-26. Retrieved 2023-12-03.