Haney, S. Fitzgerald, 1969-

Stafford Fitzgerald Haney (born January 3, 1969) is an American diplomat and businessman who served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Costa Rica from 2015 to 2017.

Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Haney grew up in Naperville, Illinois. He earned a B.S. in international economics and a M.S. with distinction in international business and diplomacy from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Washington, D.C., attending from 1986 to 1991. He was the recipient of the Brunswick-Hanigan Scholarship, the Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence and Distinction in Oral Examination at Georgetown and is a Member of the National Jesuit Honor Society.

Ambassador Haney had a distinguished career as an international businessman with many years of experience serving in senior-level marketing, financial services and manufacturing positions across Latin America. From 2007 to 2015, he was a Principal and Director of Business Development and Client Service (Europe, Middle East and Africa) at Pzena Investment Management in New York City. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President of Ethnic Consumer Products at International Discount Telecommunications (IDT) in Newark, New Jersey from 2006 to 2007; Director of Strategic Planning at Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation in New York City from 2002 to 2006; Senior Associate at Israel Seed Partners in Jerusalem from 1999 to 2001; and Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Planning at Citibank in Mexico City and Monterrey, Mexico from 1997 to 1999. He held various positions with PepsiCo Restaurants International from 1993 to 1997, including Marketing Director in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Senior Marketing Manager for Mexico and Central America in Mexico City, Mexico and Marketing Manager in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was also Assistant Brand Manager at Procter and Gamble in San Juan, Puerto Rico and served as Appointed Member of the City of Englewood Planning Board and Board of Adjustment in Englewood, New Jersey.

Haney was nominated as U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica by President Barack Obama on July 8, 2014, and was confirmed by the full Senate on May 23, 2015. He served until July 15, 2017, having been the only Obama-appointed political ambassador in the world allowed to stay under the Donald Trump administration. During his ambassadorship, he was charged with protecting U.S. citizens residing in and visiting the country; implementing U.S. foreign policy objectives; advancing U.S. commercial interests and expanding U.S.-Costa Rica ties.

Following his ambassadorship, he joined Viola Group in late November 2017 as Partner and Head of Strategic Development. In thisd role, his focus is on investor relations, client service and strategic development across the entire Group.

In July 2000, Haney married Andrea Dobrick, who was in 2000 ordained a Conservative Rabbi by the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at the American Jewish University (University of Judaism). The couple has four children. He speaks Spanish, Portuguese, Hebrew and conversational French.