Former Mexican Ambassador to Head New Podesta Group Company

USA - English

• Latin America - español

WASHINGTON, March 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- With an eye toward the ever-evolving and complex global marketplace, the Podesta Group this week launched Global Solutions, a new global strategies and risk management company. Global Solutions will be led by former Mexican Ambassador to the United States Arturo Sarukhan. Ambassador Sarukhan will serve as chairman of Global Solutions, Podesta Group Founder and Chairman Tony Podesta announced today.

"The world, its political dynamics and its markets are changing at a rapid pace. Arturo has the right set of relationships, experience, tools and vision for those around the globe who want and need to rethink how best to engage the United States and its allies," Podesta said. "Led by Arturo, Global Solutions is primed to become the go-to firm for smart, original, informed strategies for entering new markets, gauging political risks and opportunities, and effectively communicating to global audiences. Our plan is to reside at the intersection of trade, economics, politics and diplomacy, and to do so by utilizing the latest technologies and strategies available."

The grandson of conflict refugees in Mexico, Ambassador Sarukhan is a career diplomat and ambassador who will help multinational corporations and international players navigate the maze that is the global marketplace. Ambassador Sarukhan served in the Mexican Foreign Service for two decades and was decorated by the governments of Spain and Sweden. In 2007, he was appointed Ambassador of Mexico to the United States, a post he held until 2013. During his tenure as ambassador, he became the dean of the Group of Latin American Ambassadors (GRULA) to the United States.

Ambassador Sarukhan was the first ambassador posted to Washington to tweet in an official capacity, demonstrating the power of social media to conduct digital diplomacy and influence public policy. His profound knowledge of the power of digital media as an advocacy tool will be a key component of Global Solutions' offerings and advantage.

"Arturo will open up – literally – a whole new world of business possibilities for the Podesta Group, expanding our reach and footprint. His unmatched diplomatic experience and achievements will provide current and future clients with inestimable visibility into the contours, cultures and complexities of global markets," Podesta Group CEO Kimberley Fritts said. "He is uniquely fluent in the diverse public and private sector languages that make the world turn."

Whether it's negotiations over the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) or consideration of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), critically important conversations are going on with broad implications for domestic and international businesses and interests. Ambassador Sarukhan, with his prior experience in the NAFTA negotiations and most recently, in ensuring Mexico's admission as a TPP negotiating partner — as well as with his limitless relationships with congressional leaders, and high-level officials from both the Obama and Bush administrations, and heads of state across the globe — can ensure clients have a seat at the table and that they reach the people who matter.

Prior to being named ambassador, Ambassador Sarukhan served as foreign policy advisor and international spokesman for Felipe Calderon's presidential campaign, and later as coordinator for President Calderon's foreign policy transition team. Ambassador Sarukhan first served in the Foreign Ministry as deputy assistant secretary for inter-American affairs, and served as chief of staff and then head of the counter narcotics office in his earlier post at the Mexican Embassy in the US. He later served as chief of policy planning at the Mexican Foreign Ministry and was later appointed by the president as Mexican consul general to New York City.

"Arturo offers organizations the enduring global relationships and cultural and political acumen that are essential to shrewd market analysis and smart investment making," Podesta said. "His knowledge of decision-makers and decision-making processes within complex growth environments will be a winning recipe for ensuring clients' success."

Ambassador Sarukhan has received several awards in recognition of his diplomatic achievements. He is one of three diplomats to receive the Distinguished Diplomatic Service Award of the World Affairs Council of Washington, DC, and he also received the Excellence in Diplomacy Award of B'nai B'rith International and the annual Gesher Award of the American Jewish Committee (AJC). In 2010, he was included in the List of Global Leaders of Monocle magazine.

Ambassador Sarukhan serves on several boards and is a member of numerous organizations, including the Advisory Board of the Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington and the Transatlantic Task Force on Latin America of the Atlantic Council. He was recently appointed as a member of the board of directors of the Americas Society in New York City. Ambassador Sarukhan holds a BA in International Relations from El Colegio de Mexico and an MA in US Foreign Policy from the School of Advanced International Studies of Johns Hopkins University, where he was a Fulbright Scholar and Ford Foundation Fellow.

About the Podesta Group: Employing inventive strategies to deliver results, the Podesta Group has been helping leading organizations achieve their policy goals for more than 25 years. Ranked among the very best, the Podesta Group is a full-service, bipartisan government relations and public relations firm that The New York Times calls one of Washington, DC's "biggest players." With a keen understanding of the intersection between policy and publicity, and the broad, substantive experience to get things done, the Podesta Group changes outcomes. Driven. Inspired. Smart. We are the Podesta Group. For more information, visit www.podestagroup.com.

Contact: Missi Tessier
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SOURCE Podesta Group