French-American Foundation Appoints Charles Kolb President

New York – May 1, 2012 – Former White House advisor Charles Kolb will assume the presidency of the French-American Foundation – United States, the principal non-governmental organization linking France and the United States, in July 2012.

Founded in 1976, the Foundation fosters close relations between France and the United States by providing high-level government officials, business executives, academics and other experts on both sides of the Atlantic with a substantive platform for sharing knowledge and best practices on a wide range of policy issues. A sister organization in Paris, the French-American Foundation France, with the same mission, was founded concurrently.

Mr. Kolb will succeed Antoine Treuille, who has led the Foundation since 2009. Mr. Treuille asked the Foundation to find a successor so that he could devote full time to his candidacy for the newly created North American electoral seat in the French National Assembly.

“Antoine has done an extraordinary job raising the Foundation’s profile and making it an important voice in trans-Atlantic affairs, especially in the areas of business, politics, education, infrastructure, and the military,” said Foundation Chairman Allan Chapin. “He was instrumental in recruiting and organizing the best group of professionals ever to serve at the Foundation, and his strong stewardship leaves the Foundation on a solid footing and I am delighted that he will continue to be a member of our Board. We owe Antoine our deepest thanks for his excellent work.”

Mr. Kolb will step down from his current position as president of the Washington-based Committee for Economic Development, a leading nonpartisan, business-led research and policy organization that promotes sound macroeconomic policy affecting the U.S. economy. CED, which was founded in 1942, helped design what became the Marshall Plan. Under Kolb’s 15-year presidency, CED has established itself as a major voice for the U.S. business community on fiscal policy, education, corporate governance, health care, and money in politics.

Prior to joining the Committee for Economic Development in 1997, Mr. Kolb served as General Counsel of United Way of America, playing a key role in turning around that organization after a serious scandal involving its prior leadership. He spent nearly 10 years in the federal government and held four positions: Assistant General Counsel, Office of Management and Budget (1983-1986); Deputy General Counsel for Regulations and Legislation, U.S. Department of Education (1986-1988); Deputy Undersecretary for Planning, Budget, and Evaluation, U.S. Department of Education (1988-1990); and Deputy Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, The White House (1990-1992).

Mr. Kolb received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University and earned a Master’s Degree in philosophy, politics, and economics at Balliol College, Oxford University. He holds a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Virginia Journal of International Law. He has authored a book on White House policymaking as well as several dozen articles and op-eds, testified before Congress, and made numerous media appearances.

“I am honored to have been named president of the French-American Foundation,” said Mr. Kolb. “I became a lifelong Francophone at age 7, when I began to learn the language. During three wonderful summers, I also served as a stagiaire with Credit Lyonnais in Cannes. My close friendships in France have now continued for more than 40 years. France has been a major part of my personal and professional life. Serving as the French-American Foundation’s next President offers me a way to give back to a country I love deeply. Moreover, the Foundation has contributed much over the last 36 years to bridge the interests of our two great nations. My goal is for the Foundation to achieve an even more prominent role in helping to shape the dialogue between France and the U.S.”

Said Mr. Chapin: “Charlie Kolb is one of the smartest and most accomplished people in the world of public policy, government and philanthropy. His deep experience in economics, education, international relations, and law uniquely positions him to help extend the Foundation’s intellectual reach and make us even more effective in promoting the many shared interests of the United States and France.”