“When I visited South Africa over a decade ago, I fell in love with its people, its story and its beauty. It would be a great honor to represent the United States as it supports South Africa's efforts to strengthen its multiracial democracy.”
Ambassador Donald Gips was nominated as Ambassador to South Africa by President Barack Obama on June 4 and confirmed by the Senate on July 7, 2009. He presented his credentials to South African President Jacob Zuma on October 1, 2009.
Donald Gips had previously held the post of Assistant to the President and Director for Presidential Personnel.
Prior to serving in the White House, Gips helped lead then President-elect Obama’s Presidential Transition Team as a Co-Chair for the Agency Review team.
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 previously served in the White House as Chief Domestic Policy Advisor to Vice President Al Gore.
Mr. Gips also served as Chief of the International Bureau at the Federal Communications Commission where he was responsible for the WTO negotiations and all spectrum policy, and helped launch the Americorps Program at the Corporation for National Service.
Before entering government, he was an Executive Manager at McKinsey & Company.
Gips received an MBA from the Yale School of Management and received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University.
