Whitney Baird is President and CEO of the United States Council for International Business (USCIB), the leading voice of American business in global economic policy. An accomplished diplomat with a distinguished career in international affairs, Baird is a passionate advocate for open markets, trade, and the role of business in promoting economic prosperity and social progress.
Baird’s extensive experience in government and business has fostered a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the global economy. Prior to joining USCIB, Baird served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, leading efforts to promote American economic interests abroad in close collaboration with U.S. businesses, foreign governments, and international organizations. Baird also led the U.S. Mission to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as Chargé d’Affaires from 2020-2022, representing American interests in this key forum on economic policy, trade, and development.
During her diplomatic career, Baird was appointed Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs at U.S. Embassy London, Director of Multilateral Trade, Director of European Union Affairs, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for West Africa and Security Affairs, and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Europe and European Union and Regional Affairs. She also served at U.S. Embassies in Madrid, Dakar, Lome, and Yaoundé, earning distinction as the recipient of the Secretary’s Career Achievement Award and multiple Superior Honor Awards.
Baird holds a Master’s degree in International Security Studies from the National Defense University and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of North Carolina.
Recent Articles by Whitney
USCIB Welcomes New Leadership to 2022-2024 Board of Trustees and Board of Directors (7/12/2022) - Following recent membership elections, USCIB is pleased to welcome new members to the Board of Trustees and Board of Directors for the 2022-2024 term and to congratulate reelected members: New Trustees include Michael Froman, Mastercard Vice Chairman & President, Strategic Growth; and Timothy Ryan, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Senior Partner & Chair. PepsiCo, Inc Chairman & CEO Ramon Laguarta was reelected. New […]
USCIB Banking Committee Welcomes New Chair: Bank of America’s Geoff Brady (11/11/2020) - USCIB is pleased to announce the appointment of USCIB member Geoff Brady of Bank of America as new chair of the USCIB Banking Committee. Brady, who is head of global trade and supply chain finance at Bank of America, succeeds Michael Quinn of JPMorgan Chase.
US Government and USCIB Look Forward to OECD Virtual Ministerial (10/14/2020) - OECD member country high-level delegations will meet remotely October 28-29 for three-hour daily sessions of roundtable discussions following the postponement of its annual late-May Ministerial in Paris due to COVID-19. The abbreviated agenda for the Ministerial focuses on global and national recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, including through trade and investment, sustainability and international cooperation.