Ronald Gidwitz
American business executive and ambassador (born 1945) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Ronald J. Gidwitz (born March 28, 1945) is an American businessman, diplomat, and political candidate who served as United States Ambassador to Belgium, while also serving as acting United States Ambassador to the European Union.[4][5]
Ronald Gidwitz | |
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Acting United States Ambassador to the European Union | |
In office May 4, 2020 – January 20, 2021 | |
President | Donald Trump |
Preceded by | Gordon Sondland |
Succeeded by | Mark Gitenstein |
United States Ambassador to Belgium | |
In office July 4, 2018 – January 20, 2021 | |
President | Donald Trump |
Preceded by | Denise Bauer |
Succeeded by | Nicholas Berliner (acting) |
Chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education | |
In office April 1999 – April 18, 2003 | |
Appointed by | George Ryan |
Preceded by | Lou Mervis[1] |
Succeeded by | Janet Steiner[2][3] |
Chairman of the Board of City Colleges of Chicago | |
In office 1991–1999 | |
Appointed by | Richard M. Daley |
Personal details | |
Born | (1945-03-28) March 28, 1945 (age 79) |
Political party | Republican |
Children | 2 |
Parent |
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Education | Brown University (BA) |
Gidwitz is the son of prominent Chicago businessman Gerald Gidwitz. Gidwtiz served as president and CEO of Helene Curtis Industries, which was sold to Unilever in 1996. In 1998, Gidwitz co-founded the private equity firm GCG Partners, which he served as a partner at.
In terms of public-sector and political activities, in addition to serving as ambassador, Gidwitz held the positions of chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education from 1999 through 2003 and chairman of the Board of City Colleges of Chicago from 1991 through 1999. He ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for governor of Illinois in 2006. He served as the Illinois state chair for Rudy Giuliani's 2008 presidential campaign, the Illinois state finance chair for Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, and chaired both Kirk Dillard's unsuccessful 2010 Illinois gubernatorial campaign and Bruce Rauner's successful 2014 Illinois gubernatorial campaign. Gidwitz has also been involved with political advocacy organizations.
In addition to his private sector and political work, Gidwitz had been involved in philanthropic and nonprofit activities.