On March 11, President Bush announced his intention to nominate Edwin Williamson to a five-year term as director of the federal Office of Government Ethics.
 
Mr. Williamson, a partner with Sullivan & Cromwell, had been slated to assume the role of BIAC chairman this May.  In light of his nomination, however, Mr. Williamson said he would step aside to let Jin Roy Ryu, chairman and CEO of Poongsan Corp. (South Korea), assume the BIAC chairmanship earlier than planned.
 
“Edwin Williamson has made major contributions to securing the rights of individuals, companies and investors around the world,” commented USCIB President Thomas Niles.  “I can’t think of a more appropriate person for this important post.”
 
The Office of Government Ethics is the supervising ethics office for the executive branch for various purposes, including public and confidential financial disclosure reporting by executive agency officials.  Its director is appointed by the President and must be confirmed by the Senate.
 
Mr. Williamson has spent nearly his entire career at Sullivan & Cromwell, with a break to serve as legal advisor to the Department of State during the first Bush administration.  He has been an active member of USCIB for a over decade, and has provided strong leadership to various activities in our global network of business organizations.
 
As vice chair of USCIB’s Investment Committee and BIAC’s Committee on Multinational Enterprises, Mr. Williamson has been instrumental in rallying business input to the OECD’s work on foreign investment and treatment of multinational enterprises.  He has also been active in both BIAC and ICC work on corporate governance, and on combating bribery and corruption overseas.
 
USCIB joins BIAC and ICC in congratulating Mr. Williamson on his nomination to this key position.  We thank him for his exceptional commitment to our work over the years.
 
To learn more: www.uscib.org/index.asp?documentID=2882