Emerson, John Bonnell, 1954-

<p>John Bonnell Emerson (born January 11, 1954) is an American diplomat, lawyer and the former United States Ambassador to Germany, having served from 2013 to 2017. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 1, 2013. He was sworn on August 7, 2013. Emerson arrived with his family in Berlin on August 15, 2013. Emerson is the 2015 recipient of the State Department's Susan M Cobb Award for Exemplary Diplomatic Service, which is given annually to a non-career Ambassador who has used private sector leadership and management skills to make a significant impact on bilateral or multilateral relations through proactive diplomacy.</p>

<p>Emerson was raised in Bloomfield, New Jersey and Larchmont, New York. He received his bachelor's degree in Government and Philosophy from Hamilton College in 1975 and earned a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School in 1978.</p>

<p>He practiced law with Manatt, Phelps and Phillips and made partner in 1983. He served as Deputy Campaign Manager for Gary Hart's Presidential campaign until its dissolution in May 1987, and then served as Chief Deputy/Chief of Staff in the city attorney's office in Los Angeles, under City Attorney James K. Hahn. Emerson narrowly lost a race for the California State Assembly in 1991.</p>

<p>He was active in a number of subsequent political campaigns, including serving as Bill Clinton's California campaign manager in 1992. After Clinton was elected, Emerson worked as an assistant at the White House, as Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs where he served as liaison to the nation's governors, and coordinated the Administration's efforts to obtain congressional approval of the Uruguay Round of the GATT trade agreement. Emerson was particularly noted for his work as the president's chief liaison in dealing with California issues, including the aftermath of the 1994 Northridge earthquake. He subsequently worked at Capital Group Companies, an international investment management company headquartered in Los Angeles, where he became president of private client services, serving in that capacity for 16 years.</p>

<p>Emerson is married to Kimberly Marteau Emerson, attorney and civic leader. The couple has three daughters: Hayley, Taylor and Jacqueline Emerson. Prior and subsequent to moving to Germany, he and Kimberly were active in civic affairs, serving on a number of non-profit boards, including (for John), the Music Center of Los Angeles County, the LA Metropolitan YMCA, the Pacific Council on International Policy, the American Council on Germany, the German Marshall Fund, the Buckley School and Marlborough School; and for Kimberly, Human Rights Watch, United Friends of the Children, the USC Annenberg School Center on Public Diplomacy, United Way Germany, and the Archer School for Girls.</p>

<p>John B. Emerson is vice chairman of Capital Group International, Inc. He has 19 years of industry experience, all with Capital Group.</p>

<p>He most recently served as the United States ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany. In 2015, John was awarded the State Department’s Susan M. Cobb Award for Exemplary Diplomatic Service, which is given annually to one non-career ambassador, and in 2017 he was awarded the CIA Medal and the U.S. Navy’s Distinguished Public Service award.</p>

<p>Prior to accepting the ambassadorial posting, John was president of Private Client Services for the Capital Group Companies. Before joining Capital, he was deputy assistant to President Clinton where he coordinated his economic conferences, served as the president’s liaison to the nation’s governors, and led the administration’s efforts to obtain congressional approval of the GATT Uruguay Round Agreement and the extension of China s MFN trading status. Additionally, he was appointed by President Obama to serve on his Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations. Before working in the Clinton White House, John served as Los Angeles Chief Deputy City Attorney, and was a partner in the law firm of Manatt, Phelps, Rothenberg, and Phillips.</p>

<p>Ambassador Emerson currently serves as Chairman of the American Council on Germany and on the boards of the Pacific Council on International Policy and the German Marshall Fund. He is a long serving member of the Council on Foreign Relations.</p>

<p>John holds an honorary doctor of laws degree from Hamilton College, a juris doctorate degree from the University of Chicago and a bachelors degree in philosophy from Hamilton College. John is based in Los Angeles.</p>

<p>John B. Emerson was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 1, 2013 as U.S. Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany and presented his credentials to German President Joachim Gauck on August 26, 2013. He and his family arrived in Berlin on August 15, 2013.</p>

<p>He departed Post on January 20, 2017.</p>

<p>Ambassador Emerson was the 2015 recipient of the State Department’s Sue M. Cobb Award for Exemplary Diplomatic Service, which is given annually to a non-career Ambassador who has used private sector leadership and management skills to make a significant impact on bilateral or multilateral relations through proactive diplomacy.</p>

<p>Mr. Emerson was the President of Capital Group Private Client Services from 1997 to July 2013. Capital Group is one of the world’s largest investment management firms, with more than one trillion dollars in assets under management. Previously, Mr. Emerson served on President Clinton’s senior staff, from 1993-1997. He served as Deputy Director of Presidential Personnel, and subsequently as Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, where he was the President’s liaison to the nation’s governors. Mr. Emerson also coordinated the Economic Conference of the Clinton-Gore transition team and led the Administration’s efforts to obtain congressional approval of the GATT Uruguay Round Agreement in 1994, and the extension of China’s MFN trading status in 1996. In 2010, President Obama appointed Mr. Emerson to serve on the President’s Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations.</p>

<p>Before joining the Clinton administration, Mr. Emerson served as the Los Angeles Chief Deputy City Attorney (1987-1993), during which he was selected by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and the American Council on Germany to visit Germany as part of an American-German delegation. Before that, he was a partner at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, specializing in business and entertainment litigation and administrative law.</p>

<p>Mr. Emerson has been active in civic affairs and has been director of a number of non-profit organizations in Los Angeles, as well as a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy, and the Council on Foreign Relations. Mr. Emerson, originally from the suburbs of New York City, earned his Bachelor of Arts in Government and Philosophy from Hamilton College and his Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago. More recently a resident of Los Angeles, he is married to Kimberly Marteau Emerson, who served in a senior role at USIA in the Clinton Administration and currently serves on several civic and non-profit boards, pertaining to human rights and public diplomacy. Both Emersons have a deep German heritage, beginning with their grandparents. They have three daughters.</p>