On June 19, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate Matthew Barzun to be Ambassador to Sweden. Official bio released by the WH below:
Mr. Barzun is the president at BrickPath LLC, where he advises and invests in Internet media companies. Prior to BrickPath, Mr. Barzun served as the Executive Vice President for CNET Networks' Business Technology group. Mr. Barzun was responsible for helping further cement the leadership position of CNET Networks' business technology brands, including News.com, ZDNet, TechRepublic, and Builder.com. Prior to that position, Mr. Barzun was chief strategy officer of CNET Networks, where he advised the CEO and the executive committee on business and organizational alignment across the company's divisions, including leading the efforts to define and communicate the company's mission, values, and corporate goals.
Mr. Barzun graduated magna cum Laude from Harvard College.
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OpenSecrets.org of the Center for Responsive Politics has identified Mr. Barzun of Louisville, KY as one of President O’s bundlers, raising a minimum of $500,000 for the campaign. [Bundlers are people with friends in high places who, after bumping against personal contribution limits, turn to those friends, associates, and, well, anyone who's willing to give, and deliver the checks to the candidate in one big "bundle."] Public Citizen has also identified Mr. Barzun as one of the Obama bundlers who donated $5,000 for the transition.
If confirmed, Mr. Barzun would replace Michael Wood, George W.’s close friend and fraternity brother at Yale who was the US Ambassador to Sweden under Bush’s second term. The last time we had a career diplomat served as US Ambassador to Sweden was in 1989-1992 when Charles Edgar Redman was assigned there.
Related Item:
President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts, 6-19-09
