John Emerson works in global distribution as vice chairman of Capital Group International, Inc. He has 25 years of industry experience, all with Capital Group.
From 2013 to 2017, he served as the US ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany. In 2015, Emerson was awarded the State Department's Susan M. Cobb Award for Exemplary Diplomatic Service, which is given annually to one non-career ambassador. In 2017, he was awarded the CIA Medal and the US Navy's Distinguished Public Service award.
Prior to accepting the ambassadorial posting, Emerson spent 16 years as president of Private Client Services for the Capital Group Companies. Before joining Capital, he was deputy assistant to US President Bill Clinton, In that position, he coordinated economic conferences, served as the president's liaison to the nation’s governors, and led the administration's efforts to obtain congressional approval of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) Uruguay Round Agreement and the extension of China's Most Favored Nation trading status. Additionally, he was appointed by US President Barack Obama to serve on his Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations. Before working in the Clinton White House, Emerson served as Los Angeles Chief Deputy City Attorney, and was a partner in the law firm of Manatt, Phelps, Rothenberg, and Phillips.
Ambassador Emerson currently serves as chairman of the American Council on Germany and on the boards of the Pacific Council on International Policy, the German Marshall Fund, the American Friends of the Munich Security Conference, the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, and the Music Center Foundation. Previously, he served as chairman of the Music Center of Los Angeles (2003-2011), vice chairman of the Los Angeles Metropolitan YMCA (2007-2013), and as chair of the first ever Los Angeles City Independent Redistricting Commission (2001). He is a long-serving member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Emerson holds an honorary doctor of laws degree from Hamilton College, a juris doctorate degree from the University of Chicago, and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Hamilton College.