David T. Fischer
{{Short description|American businessman and diplomat (born 1946)}}
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| name = David T. Fischer
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| image = David T. Fischer official photo (cropped).jpg
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| order = 41st
| ambassador_from = United States
| country = Morocco
| term_start = January 16, 2020
| term_end = January 20, 2021
| predecessor = Dwight L. Bush Sr.
| successor = David Greene (acting)
Puneet Talwar
| president = Donald Trump
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| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1946}}
| birth_place = Detroit, Michigan
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| nationality = American
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| alma_mater = Parsons College
| occupation = Business Executive
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| caption = Official Portrait, 2020-2021
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David T. Fischer (born 1946) is an American business executive, civic leader, and philanthropist.{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Morris |title=David T. Fisher of The Suburban Collection in Troy Becomes U.S. Ambassador to Morocco |url=https://www.dbusiness.com/people/david-t-fischer-of-the-suburban-collection-in-troy-becomes-u-s-ambassador-to-morocco/ |website=Dbusiness |date=28 January 2020 |publisher=Hour Media |access-date=14 April 2021}} He was confirmed in 2019 as the United States Ambassador to Morocco{{cite web |publisher=North African Post |title="U.S. Senate Confirms David Fischer as New Ambassador to Morocco" |url=https://northafricapost.com/36322-us-senate-confirms-david-fischer-as-new-ambassador-to-morocco.html}} and served in this role until 2021.
Fischer served as chairman and CEO of The Suburban Collection/Suburban Collection Holdings, a privately held conglomerate consisting of a U.S. dealership group, accessories and parts distribution throughout much of the United States, and logistics and fleet management throughout North America and Canada.{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Morris |title=David T. Fisher of The Suburban Collection in Troy Becomes U.S. Ambassador to Morocco |url=https://www.dbusiness.com/people/david-t-fischer-of-the-suburban-collection-in-troy-becomes-u-s-ambassador-to-morocco/ |website=Dbusiness |date=28 January 2020 |publisher=Hour Media |access-date=April 14, 2021}} In 2017, Suburban Collection division GLS was selected as a General Motors “Supplier of the Year.” {{cite web |title="GM Recognizes Top Suppliers for Performance, Quality and Innovation" |url=https://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/home.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2018/apr/0423-top-suppliers.html#:~:text=General%20Motors's%202017%20Supplier%20of,ABC%20Group%20Inc.&text=Alpine%20Electronics%2C%20Inc.&text=ATLASBX%20CO.%2C%20LTD |publisher=GM Corporate Newsroom}} He has also served as chairman emeritus for the North American International Auto Show.
Early life and career
Fischer was born in 1946 in Detroit. His father founded the future Suburban Collection in 1948 {{cite web |last1=Snavely |first1=Brent |title=Suburban Collection doubles down on Michigan auto dealers |url=https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/auto-leadership/2015/01/09/suburban-collection-david-fischer-sr-david-fischer-jr/21461713/ |publisher=Detroit Free Press |access-date=January 9, 2015}} as a single Oldsmobile dealership in Birmingham, Michigan.{{cite web |last1=King |first1=R.J. |title=Lithia Acquires Suburban Collection in Troy, Adds $2.4B in Revenue |url=https://www.dbusiness.com/daily-news/lithia-acquires-suburban-collection-in-troy-adds-2-4b-in-revenue/ |website=Dbusiness |date=13 April 2021 |publisher=Hour Media |access-date=April 13, 2021}} Fischer earned a B.A. from Parsons College, and attended executive education at Harvard Business School.{{cite web |publisher=Council of American Ambassadors |title=David Fischer |url=https://www.americanambassadors.org/members/david-fischer}} Following his graduation, he became CEO and partner in 1975. Upon purchasing Suburban from his father,{{cite web |last1=Bendall |first1=Izzi |title=Five Qs: David T. Fischer, Suburban Collection in Troy |url=https://www.dbusiness.com/daily-news/five-qs-david-t-fischer-suburban-collection-in-troy/ |website=Dbusiness |date=4 November 2013 |publisher=Hour Media |access-date=November 4, 2013}} Fischer became principal owner in 1978,{{cite web |publisher=North African Post |title=U.S. Senate Confirm David Fischer as New Ambassador to Morocco |url=https://northafricapost.com/36322-us-senate-confirms-david-fischer-as-new-ambassador-to-morocco.html)}} growing Suburban to the 12th largest privately owned dealership group in the U.S. based on revenue with 32 brands at more than 50 locations throughout Michigan.{{cite web |last1=Keenan |first1=Tim |title=Suburban Collection Unveils Redesigned Suburban Cadillac of Plymouth |url=https://www.dbusiness.com/daily-news/suburban-collection-unveils-redesigned-suburban-cadillac-of-plymouth/ |website=Dbusiness |date=24 February 2022 |publisher=Hour Media |access-date=February 24, 2022}} He stepped down from his role as chairman and CEO of the company when he was confirmed by the Senate as Ambassador to Morocco on December 19, 2019. His son, David Fischer, Jr., took over the role.{{cite web |last1=Frank |first1=Annalise |title=Suburban Collection's David Fischer confirmed as ambassador to Morocco |date=28 December 2019 |url=https://www.autonews.com/dealers/suburban-collections-david-fischer-confirmed-ambassador-morocco |publisher=Automotive News |access-date=December 28, 2019}} In 2021, Fischer resumed his role as Chairman of Suburban Collection Holdings.{{cite web |publisher=Council of American Ambassadors |title=David Fischer |url=https://www.americanambassadors.org/members/david-fischer}} The Suburban Collection was acquired by Lithia Motors that year.{{cite web |last1=Charinga |first1=Jackie |publisher=Automotive News |title=Lithia completes deal for Michigan's Suburban Collection |date=13 April 2021 |url=https://www.autonews.com/dealers/lithia-completes-deal-michigans-suburban-collection}}
Fischer served as a member of the Judicial Tenure Commission for the State of Michigan, Emeritus Director of the Detroit Institute of Arts, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Oakland University, on the Board of Trustees of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and on the Board of Trustees for the College for Creative Studies.
Ambassador to Morocco
Fischer was nominated by President Donald Trump in November 2017, and began his confirmation hearing in the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in August 2018. He was confirmed by the Senate December 19, 2019 {{cite web |publisher=North African Post |title=U.S. Senate Confirms David Fischer as New Ambassador to Morocco |url=https://northafricapost.com/36322-us-senate-confirms-david-fischer-as-new-ambassador-to-morocco.html)}} and sworn in on January 16, 2020.{{cite news |last1=Kasraoui |first1=Safaa |title=Who is David T Fischer, the New US Ambassador to Morocco? |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2019/12/289406/david-t-fischer-us-ambassador-morocco-2/ |accessdate=May 16, 2020 |work=Morocco World News |date=December 20, 2019}}
Fischer was instrumental in putting forth the Abraham Peace accords and received the National Security Medal from President Donald J. Trump.{{cite web |publisher=North Africa Post |title=Former US Ambassador to Morocco awarded a royal decoration |url=https://northafricapost.com/50233-former-us-ambassador-to-morocco-awarded-a-royal-decoration.html}} He was also awarded the Wissam Alaouite of the Order of Commander by His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco.{{cite web |title=Former United States Ambassador to Morocco decorated with Wissam Alaouite of the Order of Commander |website=Morocco Latest News |url=https://moroccolatestnews.com/former-united-states-ambassador-to-morocco-decorated-with-wissam-alaouite-of-the-order-of-commander/ |access-date=June 6, 2021}}
He left office on January 20, 2021. Fischer serves on the Advisory Board of Abraham Accords Institute for Peace{{cite web |website=TELQUEL |title=David T. Fischer et Robert Greenway, VRP discrets du Maroc, en tournée éclair dans le royaume |url=https://telquel.ma/2021/07/14/david-t-fischer-et-robert-greenway-vrp-discrets-du-maroc-en-tournee-eclair-dans-le-royaume_1728977 |access-date=July 14, 2021}} and is a member of the Council of American Ambassadors.
Personal life
Fischer maintains residences in Palm Beach, Florida{{cite web |last1=Echabouch |first1=Elmahdi |title=Former US Ambassador to Morocco Builds Moorish-Styled House in Palm Beach |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2021/12/346142/former-us-ambassador-to-morocco-builds-moorish-styled-house-in-palm-beach |website=Morocco World News |access-date=December 22, 2021}} and Bloomfield Hills, Michigan with his wife, Jennifer. They have three adult sons and ten grandchildren. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Science from Oakland University and Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from the College of Creative Studies. In May 14, 2022, Amb. Fischer and his wife, Jennifer, both received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor from the Ellis Island Honors Society.{{Cite web |last=Donnelly |first=Shannon |title=Palm Beach Insider: Ellis Island Honors Society medal winners have Palm Beach connection |url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/story/news/2022/05/26/nancy-brinker-among-ellis-island-medal-honor-recipients/9931560002/ |access-date=2022-05-27 |website=Palm Beach Daily News |language=en-US}}
References
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External links
- [https://www.suburbancollection.com/ Suburban Collection official website]
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{{s-bef|before=Dwight L. Bush Sr.}}
{{s-ttl|title=United States Ambassador to Morocco|years=2020–2021}}
{{s-aft|after=David Greene
Chargé d'Affaires}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fischer, David T.}}
Category:Date of birth missing (living people)
Category:21st-century American diplomats
Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Morocco
Category:American automobile salespeople
Category:First Trump administration personnel
Category:Parsons College alumni
Category:American chief executives in the automobile industry