US-ASEAN Business Council Announces the Election of New Officers - Leadership Team

(Washington, DC) The US-ASEAN Business Council today announced the election of Mr. Matthew P. Daley as its President, and Ms. Virginia B. Foote, as its Executive Vice President. Mr. Daley has just completed over 28 years in the Foreign Service of the U.S. State Department. Ms. Foote is the President of the U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council and Executive Director of the International Center.

The US-ASEAN Business Council also announced that Mr. Walter Lohman, currently Vice-President of the Council, has been promoted to Senior Vice-President to reflect added responsibilities.
The Board of Directors further announced its intention to work with the Boards of the U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council and the International Center to develop a plan for appropriate integration and collaboration between the respective organizations.

Mr. Charles R. Williamson, Chairman of the Board of the US-ASEAN Business Council, and Chairman and CEO of Unocal Corporation stated: "The Board is extremely pleased to put in place this expanded and highly professional team - Mr. Daley & Ms. Foote bring a wealth of experience to the council. Together with Mr. Lohman and an excellent staff, the US-ASEAN Business Council will continue to grow and prosper, both in program and commitment in the region."

"The ASEAN region is dynamic and growing and the US-ASEAN Business Council reflects this," stated Matt Daley, "I am honored to take on the challenge of advancing the interests of U.S. business throughout ASEAN."

Mr. Daley's years in the State Department include service as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the American Embassy in Bangkok. His last assignment was as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, East Asia and Pacific Bureau, where he was responsible for US relations with the ASEAN countries, Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Island States. "Matt's strong background in working with the ASEAN nations will be an invaluable asset to the membership of the Council and we are looking forward to his leadership," said Mr. Williamson.

"US businesses play an extremely important and positive role in the economies and life of the ASEAN countries," said Ginny Foote; "I look forward to continuing the building process between our respective economies and peoples."

Ms. Foote brings a track record of having co-founded the U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council and of providing successful leadership at the International Center as Executive Director. "Ginny will add a new dimension to the program of the US-ASEAN Business Council as we reach out to our friends in these 10 nations," said Williamson.

Mr. Lohman has served for 7 years in several positions at the council, as well as on the Committee on Foreign Relations of the United States Senate. "Council members have benefited from Mr. Lohman's insight, and we welcome his continued contribution to the team at the US-ASEAN Business Council," commented Williamson.

The US-ASEAN Business Council is the trusted voice of the American private sector in the 10 countries making up the Association of Southeast Asian Nations: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. With over two decades of building strategic alliances and working relationships with regional organizations as well as with government and private sector leaders in each country, the Council has helped improve the business environment for American companies and expand the U.S. competitive position in the region.

The U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council is a nonprofit membership organization founded in 1989 to build a strong relationship between former enemies. The U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council played a leading role in normalizing relations between our countries and completing their bi-lateral trade agreement. The Council remains at the forefront of improving bilateral trade and investment between the United States and Vietnam with Vietnam's accession to the WTO. The International Center is a nonprofit organization with programs in Asia aimed at improved governance, rule of law, trade, and training.

Mr. Daley and Ms. Foote will assume their duties in January. Mr. Lohman, whose promotion is effective immediately, will be the senior US-ASEAN Business Council officer leading several business delegations to the region in November and December.

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