Yohannes, Daniel W., 1952-

<p>Daniel W. Yohannes is the United States Ambassador to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). He was nominated by President Barack Obama on September 11, 2013, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 9, 2014.</p>

<p>A former banker from Englewood, Colorado, Mr. Yohannes has more than 30 years of experience in banking and economic development. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Yohannes served for more than four years as the Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the independent U.S. foreign aid agency that is helping lead the fight against global poverty.</p>

<p>Prior to his government service, Mr. Yohannes was the President of M&R Investments, a firm specializing in financial services and the renewable energy sector. Before launching M&R Investments, Mr. Yohannes was a leader in the financial services industry, working in various roles throughout his career including as Vice Chairman and member of the Management Committee of U.S. Bank, President and CEO of Colorado National Bank, and as the Executive Vice President of Security Pacific Bank (now Bank of America).</p>

<p>Passionate about protecting the environment and creating practical methods for implementation, in 2006, Mr. Yohannes co-founded the New Resource Bank in San Francisco, California to invest in green projects and environmentally sustainable businesses in the community. He also served as chairman of the Greenprint Council, a leadership group established by the Mayor of Denver focused on improving the environment of cities and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.</p>

<p>Mr. Yohannes is active in his community and has served on various boards and civil organizations, including the Board Project C.U.R.E (Commission on Urgent Relief & Equipment), the National Jewish Hospital, the Denver Art Museum's Board of Trustees, the Smithsonian National Board, the Board of Directors of Media One (now Comcast), University of Washington Michael G. Foster School of Business, Pacific Coast Banking School, Boy Scouts of America, First Western Trust Bank, New Resource Bank, and the Board of Advisors for the University of Colorado Medical School.</p>

<p>Mr. Yohannes graduated from Claremont McKenna College with a B.A. in Economics and earned an M.B.A. from Pepperdine University. Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, he is fluent in Amharic.</p>

<p>Daniel W. Yohannes (born September 22, 1952) is an Ethiopian-American businessman and philanthropist who served as the U.S. Ambassador to the OECD from 2014 to 2017.</p>

<p>From 2009 to 2014, he was the CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), an independent U.S. foreign aid agency. Before his government service, he worked in the financial services industry, as President of M&R Investments, as well as in various roles at U.S. Bank, Colorado National Bank, and Security Pacific Bank. In July 2006 John Hickenlooper appointed Yohannes to be Co-Chairman of the Greenprint Council, a group charged with overseeing the city of Denver’s sustainability plan, and in November 2006, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter named him to oversee his transition team.</p>

<p>Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on September 22, 1952, Yohannes completed elementary school at the Nativity Boy’s School and went on to St. Joseph’s, a prestigious Catholic high school in the Ethiopian capital. He is fluent in Amharic.</p>

<p>In 1970, at the age of 17, Yohannes immigrated to the United States from Ethiopia. He finished high school in Los Angeles and went on to college, earning a B.A. in Economics from Claremont McKenna College and an M.B.A. from Pepperdine University.</p>

<p>Daniel Yohannes is married to Saron Yohannes. They have three children.</p>

<p>Yohannes began his career in the financial services industry. In 1977, he started at Security Pacific National Bank (now Bank of America) as a management trainee. Working his way up the ranks, Yohannes eventually became Executive Vice President before leaving in 1992. Yohannes then relocated to Denver to work for the First Bank System, serving as President of Colorado National Bank from 1992 to 1999. During his tenure, the bank grew from $2 billion to $9 billion in assets. Also during this time, Colorado National Bank was acquired by U.S. Bank and Yohannes became CEO of U.S. Bank’s Colorado division. Yohannes was subsequently named Vice Chairman and Member of the Management Committee at U.S. Bank. He was named President of the division in 2002, and departed in 2003, stating that “it was time to do something different."</p>

<p>Yohannes followed his passion for protecting the environment through practical, sustainable methods by co-founding the New Resource Bank in San Francisco in 2006. The New Resource Bank invests in green projects and environmentally sustainable businesses.</p>

<p>Yohannes also served as President of M&R Investments, an investment firm specializing in real estate, financial institutions and the green sector.</p>

<p>In September 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Yohannes to serve as CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a U.S. development agency that aims to reduce global poverty by investing in select countries that demonstrate a commitment to good governance.</p>

<p>On November 20, 2009, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmed Yohannes. Upon his confirmation, Yohannes stated, "It is challenging to replace patronage with partnership and to deliver smart aid that matters by encouraging good policies, country-led development, and sustainable results. MCC offers some important lessons on where to start. MCC lays an innovative foundation to address the complex problem of global poverty."</p>

<p>Described by CNN as "Obama's man on global development," Yohannes brought his private sector expertise to the position, stating that, to bring the greatest returns to American taxpayers, MCC should be run effectively and efficiently, “just like a business." Under Yohannes' leadership, MCC started or completed investments of more than $9 billion in 25 countries on projects that lifted more than 173 million people out of poverty.</p>

<p>Yohannes departed MCC for the OECD during its landmark 10th anniversary year, after having helped cement MCC's reputation as an innovative development agency that pushes the envelop on results, evidence-driven decision-making, accountability, and data transparency.</p>

<p>Yohannes took up his duties as U.S. Ambassador to the OECD on May 2, 2014. He was nominated by President Barack Obama on September 11, 2013, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 9, 2014.</p>

<p>As Ambassador, Yohannes has established climate change, tax reform, governance, development, and inequality as top priorities for the United States at the OECD. In cooperation with the Department of Treasury, he secured agreement for new international tax rules that helps reduce tax avoidance among multinational corporations and prevent double taxation. In November 2015, he facilitated a landmark agreement to restrict the use of export credits for coal-fired power plants. He also worked closely with the Department of Energy of Department of State to chair the International Energy Agency (IEA) Ministerial, which modernized the IEA and aligned its mission and activities with the current energy landscape.</p>

<p>In 2015, Yohannes began a sustained effort to strengthen and expand the OECD’s work to address rising inequality. In July, he published a joint op-ed with OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria, arguing that the United States can lead a global transition towards a more inclusive model of economic growth. In October, he created a Friends of Inclusive Growth group, then leveraged his role as Chair to foster collaboration with local government and private sector leaders. Explaining his strategy, he compared rising inequality to climate change, arguing that: “in the case of the climate movement, cities, NGO’s and businesses took the lead in policy experimentation and advocacy, laying the groundwork for action at the national level. They can do the same on inequality. They can lead a global movement for inclusive economic growth.” Yohannes encouraged and supported the creation of a network of Champion Mayors for Inclusive Growth, launched at the Ford Foundation on March 29, 2016. At the second meeting of Champion Mayors, he announced that he had obtained funding from the Department of State for a dedicated web platform that would strengthen collaboration between mayors and educate the public about inclusive growth. Yohannes also led outreach to the private sector, hosting the launch of the OECD Initiative on Business and Inclusive Growth in November 15, 2016.</p>

<p>Publicly, Yohannes insisted on the strategic value of the OECD to the United States, calling the organization “an extension of U.S. foreign policy” and “a powerful instrument to promote our values worldwide.” He was outspoken about the need for a sustained focus on gender at the OECD, arguing that “gender cannot be a side issue, a separate funding stream or an afterthought; it must be woven into the fabric of the organization so that it informs every single issue the OECD addresses.” And he pressed the OECD to make the economic case for LGBT inclusivity, arguing that “there are real costs to society when a significant segment is cut off from health care, social benefits or social protection.” Thanks to his efforts to obtain funding and generate support among other OECD members, the OECD launched a research project with the goal of developing evidence-based policy recommendations for LGBT inclusivity.</p>

<p>Yohannes also spoke publicly about how his experience as an immigrant inspired his public service: “I wanted to give back to the country that gave me so much,” he wrote. A strong advocate for diversity, he argued that “in diplomacy as in every other area, America’s greatest resource is its difference.” In June 2016, Yohannes co-hosted the first-ever Ethiopian American Policy Briefing at the White House. In his opening remarks, he told Ethiopian Americans that “America’s melting pot is a recipe for success” and that “what we make of our immigrant experience is up to us.”</p>

<p>Yohannes is active in his community and has served on various boards and civil organizations, including sitting on the Board of Project C.U.R.E (Commission on Urgent Relief & Equipment), an organization that delivers donated medical supplies and equipment to more than 120 developing nations around the world, and the National Jewish Hospital. Yohannes helped to fund the building of a new research and medical facility at the hospital, the Iris and Michael Smith Clinics and Laboratories, which opened in 2007.</p>

<p>Yohannes served as co-chair of the 23rd G8 summit in Denver, Colorado, in 1997 along with Bill Coors and Gail Schoettler. In this capacity, Yohannes was responsible for raising the funds necessary to host the summit. Yohannes was recognized in Denver for the significant role he played in making the summit possible.</p>

<p>Yohannes was also an advocate for Denver Sister Cities International, playing an influential role in pairing Denver with the Ethiopian city of Axum. In 1995, after the match was made official, Yohannes co-led a delegation of Denver officials and business leaders on a visit to Axum.</p>

<p>Yohannes has served the arts community through his presence on the Smithsonian National Board and the Board of Directors of Media One (now Comcast).</p>

<p>In 2006, while serving on the Board of Trustees of Denver Art Museum, Yohannes and his family endowed the museum’s first African art gallery. Beyond providing the new gallery space in the museum, Yohannes aided in expanding the museum’s African art collection.</p>

<p>He has also lent his expertise to his community by serving on the boards of the University of Washington Michael G. Foster School of Business, the Pacific Coast Banking School, the Boy Scouts of America, the First Western Trust Bank, the New Resource Bank, and the Board of Advisors for the University of Colorado Medical School.</p>

<p>On April 1, 2019, Yohannes was named a Director of the newly formed Dow Inc..</p>

<p>In February 2013, outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton awarded Yohannes with the State Department’s highest honor, the Secretary’s Distinguished Service Award.</p>

<p>In June 2013, Yohannes was invited to join the Council of Foreign Relations.</p>

<p>In 2013, Yohannes was named to Washington Life Magazine’s Power 100 list.</p>

<p>Similarly, in 2012, he was included on Paris-based The Africa Report’s list of the top 50 most influential Africans.</p>

<p>Three foreign governments have also recognized Yohannes’ service and leadership. The Government of the Philippines awarded him its Citation of the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Grand Cross, Silver Distinction in October 2014. Benin honored him with its National Order of Merit, Commander. Yohannes also received the Honduran Medal of Merit, Commander.</p>

<p>Daniel W. Yohannes, a businessman, philanthropist, and diplomat, was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on September 22, 1952. He moved to the United States at age 17 as an exchange student in the 11th grade, attending high school in Los Angeles, California.</p>

<p>After working as a stock room clerk in a clothing store and later as a teller at a local bank in Los Angeles, he earned a B.A. in economics from Claremont McKenna College (1976) and a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from Pepperdine University (1980).</p>

<p>Yohannes began his professional career as a Management Trainee at Security Pacific National Bank (now part of Bank of America) in 1977, eventually becoming Executive Vice President in 1992. Yohannes moved to Denver, Colorado later that year to become President and CEO of Colorado National Bank where he served until 1998. During this time Colorado National Bank was acquired by U.S. Bancorp and Yohannes would serve the larger bank in several capacities from 1998 to 2006, including President and CEO of its Colorado Division, Vice Chair of its Commercial Banking Group, and member of its Management Committee.</p>

<p>In 2006, Yohannes retired from banking and led the transition team of Colorado Governor-Elect, Democrat Bill Ritter, that year. He also briefly served as President and CEO of M & R Investments, a privately-held investment firm specializing in investments in real estate, financial institutions, and green energy before later in 2006 becoming one of the founders of the New Resource Bank which focused on investments in environmentally sustainable business ventures. He remained there as Chair of the Board of New Resource Bank until stepping down in 2008.</p>

<p>In 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Yohannes to lead the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a U.S. foreign aid agency created by Congress in 2004 to provide large-scale grants to developing countries to help end world poverty through economic growth. Yohannes was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as CEO of the MCC in September of 2009.</p>

<p>Yohannes served as the corporation’s CEO and as Chairman of its Board of Directors, which included U.S. Secretaries of State and Treasury, the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Trade Representative, and four private sector representatives. Yohannes led the MCC during a time when it invested more than $9 billion in development projects aimed at lifting more than 173 million people out of poverty in over 25 countries.</p>

<p>In 2013, President Obama nominated Yohannes as U.S. Representative to the Paris, France-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), with rank of Ambassador. After Senate confirmation in 2014, Ambassador Yohannes moved to Paris to head U.S. efforts to promote investment, economic development, education and transparency in business and government in over 70 nations including emerging economic powers such as Brazil, South Africa, China, and post-Cold War Russia. During his time at OECD, Ambassador Yohannes established the Group of Friends of Inclusive Growth, whose goal is fostering collaboration among OECD member countries and outside stakeholders, including the private sector and local government leaders.</p>

<p>Ambassador Yohannes’ leadership and contributions have been widely recognized. In 2013 U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton awarded him the Secretary’s Distinguished Service Award, the State Department’s highest honor. He has also been named by The Africa Report as one of its top 50 most influential Africans in 2012. Also, the governments of the Philippines, Benin, and Honduras have all on separate occasions given him national honors.</p>

<p>Ambassador Yohannes is married to Saron Yohannes, and they have three children.</p>