Donald Gips, nominated by President Obama, presented his credentials as Ambassador to South Africa to South African President Jacob Zuma on October 1, 2009.

Before being asked to be President Obama’s personal representative to South Africa, Gips served as Assistant to the President. He was a leader on the Presidential Transition Team and then served in the White House, where he ran the office of Presidential Personnel; overseeing the selection of several thousand political appointments for the Obama Administration.

Gips previously served in the White House during the Clinton administration, working as Chief Domestic Policy Advisor to Vice President Al Gore among other key strategic roles.

From 1998-2008, Gips was Group Vice President of Global Corporate Development for Level 3 Communications, where he led merger and acquisition efforts and was the Chief Strategy Officer.

Gips also served as Chief of the International Bureau at the Federal Communications Commission where he was responsible for WTO negotiations and spectrum policy. Additionally, he is dedicated to promoting a culture of service and helped launch America’s national service program, Americorps.

Before entering government, he was a management consultant to Fortune 500 companies at McKinsey & Company.

Gips received an MBA from the Yale School of Management and received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University.

Contact Information

US Embassy
PO Box 9536, Pretoria 0001
877 Pretorius St, Arcadia, Pretoria

Phone: (27-12) 431-4000
Fax: (27-12) 342-2299

Website: http://southafrica.usembassy.gov/