Ken Howery

Howery was born in 1975 in Texas.{{Cite web|url=https://student.portal.chalmers.se/sv/aktuelllt/Sidor/USAs-ambassad%C3%B6r-bes%C3%B6ker-Chalmers.aspx|title=The U.S. Ambassador visits Chalmers|date=January 9, 2020|access-date=January 14, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/116th-congress/127|title=PN127 116th Congress|date=September 17, 2019|access-date=January 14, 2021}} Later graduating from Stanford University in 1998 with a B.A. in economics. While at Stanford, he was managing editor of The Stanford Review, a student-run newspaper founded by Peter Thiel.{{Cite news|url=https://stanfordreview.org/life-after-the-stanford-review-by-anthony-mainero|title=Life After the Stanford Review|date=February 10, 2012|work=The Stanford Review|access-date=February 16, 2018}}

The same year he graduated, he co-founded PayPal with Peter Thiel, Luke Nosek, Elon Musk, and Max Levchin. The group of founders became known as the PayPal Mafia, which included other peers and early investors. From 1998 to 2002, Howery served as PayPal's CFO. Following PayPal's acquisition by eBay in 2002, Howery served as eBay's Director of Corporate Development until 2003. Howery then rejoined Thiel in 2004 at Clarium Capital Management, where he served as vice president of private equity, as well as a member of the research and trading teams.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

In March 2012, the World Economic Forum named Howery a Young Global Leader,{{Cite web|url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/YGL12/WEF_YGL_HonoureesClass_2012.pdf|title=List of 2012 Young Global Leaders Honourees|date=July 20, 2012|website=World Economic Forum|access-date=February 16, 2018}} a community of “socially-minded men and women selected under the age of 40, who operate as a force for good to overcome barriers that elsewhere stand in the way of progress."{{Cite web|url=https://www.weforum.org/communities/young-global-leaders|title=Young Global Leaders|website=World Economic Forum|access-date=2017-07-28}} He is also a member of the Selection Committee for the World Economic Forum Technology Pioneers Program.{{Cite web|url=https://blog.kiva.org/about/team/advisors|title=Board and Advisors {{!}} Kiva|website=blog.kiva.org|access-date=2017-07-28}}

In 2005, Howery and Thiel, along with fellow PayPal alumnus, Nosek, started Founders Fund, a San Francisco-based venture capital firm with over $3 billion under management, where he served as co-founder and partner. He has served on the boards of Quantcast and ZocDoc. In 2010, Venture Capital Journal named Howery one of the Top 10 VCs under 36.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.reuters.com/small-business/2010/08/02/hot-prospects-top-10-vcs-under-36|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100803120203/http://blogs.reuters.com/small-business/2010/08/02/hot-prospects-top-10-vcs-under-36/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 3, 2010|title=Hot prospects: Top 10 VCs under 36|publisher=Reuters|author=Staff|date=August 2, 2010}} He has lectured on entrepreneurship at Harvard Business School and Stanford, and has helped students at UC Berkeley and the McCombs School of Business develop business models.

Howery is a member of The Explorers Club, a non-profit group that promotes scientific exploration.{{Cite news|url=http://magazine.ivy.com/2016/10/ken-howery-2|title=Behind the Scenes with PayPal Co-Founder Ken Howery|date=October 11, 2016|work=IVY MAGAZINE|access-date=August 15, 2017|archive-date=August 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815103911/http://magazine.ivy.com/2016/10/ken-howery-2/|url-status=dead}}

Howery is an advisor to Kiva, a 501(c)(3) charity organization which enables people to lend money via the Internet to low-income entrepreneurs and students in over 80 countries. He is a member of the U.S. Council on Competitiveness, which has a stated goal of increasing the United States' economic competitiveness in the global marketplace.

Howery's net worth stands at $1.5 billion.{{Cite news|date=2018-02-01|title=PayPal net worth has surpassed parent company eBay - Compelo|url=https://www.ns-businesshub.com/popular/paypal-net-worth/|access-date=2020-06-17|website=NS Business|language=en-US}}

File:Ambassador Ken Howery Swearing-In.jpg

On January 16, 2019, Howery was nominated by President Donald Trump to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Kingdom of Sweden.{{cite web|title=Nominations Sent to the Senate|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/nominations-sent-senate/|access-date=17 September 2019|website=The White House}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thelocal.se/20190529/sweden-one-step-closer-to-getting-a-us-ambassador-after-a-28-month-wait|title=Sweden one step closer to getting a US ambassador – after more than two years|date=May 29, 2019|website=www.thelocal.se}} Following a confirmation hearing on May 16, 2019, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee favorably reported Howery's nomination to the Senate, which confirmed Howery on September 17, 2019, by a vote of 62–32.{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=116&session=1&vote=00285|title=U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 116th Congress - 1st Session|website=www.senate.gov}}{{cite web |title=PN127 — Kenneth A. Howery — Department of State |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/116th-congress/127 |website=Congress.gov |date=17 September 2019 |access-date=17 September 2019}} In his confirmation hearing, Howery stated his priorities as ambassador would include pursuing expanded economic and trade relationships, advancing mutual security commitments, and promoting science, technology and entrepreneurship opportunities.{{cite web |title=Statement of Kenneth A. Howery |url=https://www.foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/051619_Howery_Testimony.pdf |website=Senate Foreign Relations Committee |access-date=17 September 2019}}

Howery was sworn in as ambassador on October 10, 2019,{{Cite web|title=Ambassador Kenneth A. Howery|url=http://se.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/our-ambassador/|access-date=2020-12-22|website=U.S. Embassy in Sweden|language=en-US}} and presented his credentials to His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf on November 7, 2019.{{Cite web|title=The King receives foreign ambassadors - Sveriges Kungahus|url=https://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/latestnews/2019/2019/thekingreceivesforeignambassadors.5.4f00651a16e3a89c9d018d7.html|access-date=2020-12-22|website=www.kungahuset.se|language=en|archive-date=2021-01-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111211242/https://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/latestnews/2019/2019/thekingreceivesforeignambassadors.5.4f00651a16e3a89c9d018d7.html|url-status=dead}} 

As ambassador, Howery was active across a number of policy areas.{{Cite web|date=2020-12-21|title="USA:s och Sveriges militära samarbete har aldrig varit tätare än under Trump"|url=https://www.dn.se/sverige/usas-och-sveriges-militara-samarbete-har-aldrig-varit-tatare-an-under-trump/|access-date=2020-12-22|website=Dagens Nyheter|language=sv}} Howery engaged with Swedish officials on defense issues and military strategy, including pressing for increased interoperability of U.S. and Swedish military systems.{{Cite news|last=Brussels|first=Michael M. Phillips in Gotland, Sweden, and James Marson in|date=2021-01-05|title=Russian Aggression Spurs Neighbors to Rebuild Defenses|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/russian-aggression-spurs-neighbors-to-rebuild-defenses-11609859853|access-date=2021-02-16|issn=0099-9660}}{{Cite web|date=2021-01-20|title=A Farewell Message from Ambassador Howery|url=http://se.usembassy.gov/a-farewell-message-from-ambassador-howery/|access-date=2021-02-16|website=U.S. Embassy in Sweden|language=en-US}} He also advocated for the longstanding U.S. goal of increased European defense spending; Sweden approved a 40% increase in defense spending over five years during Howery's tenure - the largest increase in more than 70 years.{{Cite web|agency=Associated Press|date=2020-12-15|title=Sweden ups defense budget 40% due to regional tensions|url=https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2020/12/15/sweden-ups-defense-budget-40-due-to-regional-tensions/|access-date=2020-12-22|website=Defense News|language=en-US}} President Trump later praised Howery's leadership on increasing defense, security, and economic cooperation between the United States and Sweden, saying "he served our [n]ation brilliantly," as an ambassador.{{Cite web |title=Truth Social |url=https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113698764270730405 |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=Truth Social |language=en}}

Howery strongly advocated for clean 5G technology,{{Cite web|last=Piauger|first=Alexander|date=2020-01-23|title=USA:s ambassadör om Kinas investeringar i Göteborg: "Det kan ni få ångra"|url=http://www.gp.se/1.22909257|access-date=2020-12-22|website=gp.se|language=sv}} promoting the official U.S Department of State position that encourages the use of equipment made by Swedish manufacturer Ericsson and asserts that Huawei-made products are a security risk to democracies. Howery met with senior Swedish officials on 5G security in September, 2020,{{Cite tweet|author=Ken Howery|author-link=Ken Howery|user=USAmbSweden|number=1303787634037264385|date=9 September 2020|title=Secure 5G, Arctic issues, and eastern Europe are just some of the issues the U.S. and Sweden cooperate on hand-in-hand. Thanks @SweMFA State Secretary Rydberg and @SweAmericas Head Veronika Wand-Danielsson (@AmbVWD) for a great discussion.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200909201043/https://twitter.com/USAmbSweden/status/1303787634037264385|archive-date=9 September 2020}} and Sweden subsequently announced a ban on equipment from telecommunication companies Huawei and ZTE in its 5G network.{{Cite news|last=Soderpalm|first=Supantha Mukherjee, Helena|date=2020-10-20|title=Sweden bans Huawei, ZTE from upcoming 5G networks|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/sweden-huawei-int-idUSKBN2750WA|access-date=2020-12-22}}

Howery also promoted increased cooperation, including on security issues, between the U.S. and Sweden in the Arctic.{{Cite news|date=2020-02-19|title=DEBATT: "Ryssland och Kina skapar risker i Arktis"|language=sv|work=Svenska Dagbladet|url=https://www.svd.se/ryssland-och-kina-skapar-risker-i-arktis|access-date=2020-12-22|issn=1101-2412}} In October 2020, Sweden published its first new Arctic Strategy in a decade, highlighting concerns about deteriorating global relations and the growth of military activity in the Arctic.{{Cite web|last=Regeringskansliet|first=Regeringen och|date=2020-11-10|title=Sweden's strategy for the Arctic region 2020|url=https://www.government.se/information-material/2020/11/swedens-strategy-for-the-arctic-region-2020/|access-date=2020-12-22|website=Regeringskansliet|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Bye|first=Text Hilde-Gunn|title=Sweden Launches New Arctic Strategy|url=https://www.highnorthnews.com/en/sweden-launches-new-arctic-strategy|access-date=2020-12-22|website=www.highnorthnews.com|language=en}} His Arctic advocacy included helping establish a partnership between the Arctic Initiative at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and Sweden's Luleå University of Technology.{{Cite web|title=Arctic Innovation Lab: New Ideas For a Better Arctic|url=https://www.belfercenter.org/event/arctic-innovation-lab-new-ideas-better-arctic|access-date=2020-12-22|website=Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs|date=9 October 2020 |language=en}} 

As Sweden serves as the protecting power for the United States in North Korea,{{Cite web|title=North Korea International Travel Information|url=https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/KoreaDemocraticPeoplesRepublicof.html|access-date=2021-02-16|website=travel.state.gov}} Howery worked to maintain a strong communication channel for the push for denuclearization, and worked with Swedish officials to counter disinformation, and promote democracy, human rights, free trade, and regional security.

Howery advocated for the importance of transparency and information-sharing between countries to respond effectively to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=DEBATT. USA:s ambassadör: Vi måste förenas i kampen mot corona|url=https://www.expressen.se/debatt/usas-ambassador-vi-maste-forenas-i-kampen-mot-corona/|access-date=2020-12-22|website=www.expressen.se|date=2 April 2020 |language=sv}} He led efforts by U.S. Embassy Stockholm to assist Swedish manufacturer Getinge with supply chain issues, helping it to expand production of ventilators for the benefit of COVID-19 patients in the United States and around the world.{{Cite web|title=Remarks for the October 1, 2020 SACC-USA Executive Forum|url=https://se.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/our-ambassador/remarks-for-the-october-1-2020-sacc-usa-executive-forum/|url-status=live|access-date=2020-12-22|website=U.S. Embassy in Sweden|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113131339/https://se.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/our-ambassador/remarks-for-the-october-1-2020-sacc-usa-executive-forum/|archive-date=2021-01-13|language=en-US}}  

Howery engaged with the Swedish academic community, including on the role universities can play in entrepreneurship and the importance of academic integrity.{{Cite news|date=2020-02-14|title=US Ambassador Kenneth Howery highlights the university's importance for entrepreneurship - Luleå University of Technology|url=https://www.ltu.se/ltu/media/news/USA-s-ambassador-Kenneth-Howery-lyfter-universitetets-betydelse-for-entreprenorskap-1.195935?l=en|access-date=2020-12-22|website=www.ltu.se|language=en}}{{Cite tweet|author=Ken Howery|author-link=Ken Howery|user=USAmbSweden|number=1336325405968482311|date=8 December 2020|title=Delighted to have leaders of several of Sweden's top universities join me for a wide-ranging discussion today with @STASatState Dr. Mung Chiang about ensuring academic integrity while promoting cutting-edge research.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119135102/https://twitter.com/USAmbSweden/status/1336325405968482311|archive-date=19 January 2021}} He conducted outreach to the U.S. and Swedish business communities in Sweden,{{Cite tweet|author=Ken Howery|author-link=Ken Howery|user=USAmbSweden|number=1318502030663684097|date=20 October 2020|title=Enjoyed talking about #entrepreneurship and #innovation with #Malmö tech investor Hampus Jakobsson (@hajak) at Malmö Business Day.|archive-url=https://twitter.com/USAmbSweden/status/1318502030663684097|archive-date=19 January 2021}}{{Cite tweet|author=Ken Howery|author-link=Ken Howery|user=USAmbSweden|number=1228246870729854976|date=14 February 2020|title=Impressed by @SSAB_AB's innovative initiatives to pilot (and eventually scale up) carbon free steel production. Also excited to find out how SSAB Americas is bringing their technology to #Iowa and #Alabama. Private sector innovation will lead the way.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200214100426/https://twitter.com/USAmbSweden/status/1228246870729854976|archive-date=14 February 2020}}{{Cite tweet|author=Ken Howery|author-link=Ken Howery|user=USAmbSweden|number=1219984425527730177|date=22 January 2020|title=Thank you to Henrik Henriksson and the entire team at @scaniagroup in #Södertälje for a wonderful day learning about #Scania!|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119135406/https://twitter.com/USAmbSweden/status/1219984425527730177|archive-date=19 January 2021}}{{Cite tweet|author=Ken Howery|author-link=Ken Howery|user=USAmbSweden|number=1217374098025779200|date=15 January 2020|title=Honored to be invited to @AstraZeneca incubator, @BioVentureHub, which houses some fascinating bio- and medtech startups. I hope to see them invested in the U.S. one day soon!|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115121911/https://twitter.com/USAmbSweden/status/1217374098025779200|archive-date=15 January 2020}}{{Cite tweet|author=Ken Howery|author-link=Ken Howery|user=USAmbSweden|number=1204030334767112193|date=9 December 2019|title=Thanks to @Ericsson CEO Börje Ekholm for showing me how Ericsson provides secure 5G technology to networks around the world. #USSwedishTrade|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209134232/https://twitter.com/USAmbSweden/status/1204030334767112193|archive-date=9 December 2019}} including delivering speeches at the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce and the American Chamber of Commerce.{{Cite web|title=EXECUTIVE FORUM 2020 [WASHINGTON, D.C.]|url=https://www.sacc-ne.org/event/2020/10/1/executive-forum-2020-washington-dc|access-date=2020-12-22|website=SACC-NE|date=October 2020 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=A Conversation with Ambassador Kenneth A. Howery|url=https://www.amcham.se/calendar/2020/5/14/a-conversation-with-ambassador-kenneth-a-howery|access-date=2020-12-22|website=American Chamber of Commerce in Sweden|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-01-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112032919/https://www.amcham.se/calendar/2020/5/14/a-conversation-with-ambassador-kenneth-a-howery|url-status=dead}} He also engaged with top Swedish scientific research institutes, science parks, and Sweden's Innovation Agency.{{Cite tweet|author=European Spallation Source|author-link=European Spallation Source|user=essneutron|number=1318514303025225730|date=20 October 2020|title=We were happy to host the US Ambassador to Sweden on site yesterday! We look forward to seeing you at #ESSneutron again soon @USAmbSweden!}}{{Cite tweet|author=MAX IV Laboratory|author-link=MAX IV Laboratory|user=MAXIVLaboratory|number=1318448905009418241|date=20 October 2020|title=We are glad and honored to have welcomed @USAmbSweden to @MAXIVLaboratory. No one better than our director Ian McNulty could showcase the great potential of the world's brightest source of #xray and the opportunities for #research and #collaboration.}}{{Cite tweet|author=Ken Howery|author-link=Ken Howery|user=USAmbSweden|number=1318905114246131712|date=21 October 2020|title=Exciting to see some of the cutting-edge life science work going on @MedeonSP and Open Lab #Skåne this morning; hope some of these firms will consider investing in and partnering with the United States soon.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021132230/https://twitter.com/USAmbSweden/status/1318905114246131712|archive-date=21 October 2020}}{{Cite tweet|author=Lindholmen Science Park|author-link=Lindholmen Science Park|user=Lindholmen|number=1219631267521748992|date=21 January 2020|title=Här är ett förevigat ögonblick från det intressanta och givande besöket med ambassadör Ken Howery @USAmbSweden. #gbgftw #lindholmensciencepark #Sweden #collaboration}}{{Cite tweet|author=Ken Howery|author-link=Ken Howery|user=USAmbSweden|number=1236927009256865792|date=9 March 2020|title=Interesting briefing by @vinnovase DG Darja Isaksson (@darjaisaksson) on their operations, strategic innovation programs and activities in the U.S.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309082203/https://twitter.com/USAmbSweden/status/1236927009256865792|archive-date=9 March 2020}}

In response to growing calls for Sweden's NATO accession following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Howery authored an op-ed saying the Ukraine invasion had dramatically shifted public opinion in Sweden about NATO, and that the country would "make an outstanding addition" to the alliance and its joining "will be cause for celebration."{{Cite news |last=Howery |first=Ken |date=July 20, 2022 |title=Sweden and NATO are ready for each other |url=https://thehill.com/opinion/international/3567434-sweden-and-nato-are-ready-for-each-other/ |access-date=January 10, 2025 |work=The Hill}}

President-elect Donald Trump announced Howery as his choice to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Kingdom of Denmark on December 22, 2024.

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Category:1975 births

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