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 | June 12, 1954 Orange, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Whitney Shiner (divorced) |
| Education | University of Colorado, Boulder (BA) |
Josette Sheeran (born 12 June 1954) is an American non-profit executive and diplomat who served in the United States Department of State. Sheeran serves as the seventh president and CEO of Asia Society since June 10, 2013. Sheeran was also the United Nations's Special Envoy for Haiti.[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, which has attracted $10 billion 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 Kofi Annan in November 2006.[3] Sheeran served as a diplomat and negotiator for the United States, and was unanimously confirmed by the Senate twice.
She served as United States Under Secretary for Economic, Business, and Agricultural Affairs, and as deputy U.S. Trade Representative. 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; 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.
- ^ "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.