26 Facts About Daniel Yohannes

Daniel W Yohannes is an Ethiopian-American businessman and philanthropist who served as the US Ambassador to the OECD from 2014 to 2017.

In July 2006 John Hickenlooper appointed Yohannes to be co-chairman of the Greenprint Council, a group charged with overseeing the city of Denver's sustainability plan, and in November 2006, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter named him to oversee his transition team.

In 1970, at the age of 17, Daniel Yohannes immigrated to the United States from Ethiopia.

Daniel Yohannes then relocated to Denver to work for the First Bank System, serving as president of Colorado National Bank from 1992 to 1999.

Also during this time, Colorado National Bank was acquired by US Bank and Daniel Yohannes became CEO of US Bank's Colorado division.

Daniel Yohannes was named vice chairman and member of the management committee at US Bank.

Daniel Yohannes followed his passion for protecting the environment through practical, sustainable methods by co-founding the New Resource Bank in San Francisco in 2006.

In September 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Daniel Yohannes to serve as CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a US development agency that aims to reduce global poverty by investing in select countries that demonstrate a commitment to good governance.

Daniel Yohannes led two Presidential Delegations while serving as CEO of MCC- the first to Dakar, Senegal for President Macky Sall's inauguration in April 2012, and the second to Accra, Ghana for the inauguration of President John Dramani Mahama in January 2013.

In June 2013, President Obama invited Daniel Yohannes to join him during his trip to Africa.

Daniel Yohannes departed MCC for the OECD during its landmark 10th anniversary year, after having helped cement MCC's reputation as an innovative development agency that pushes the envelope on results, evidence-driven decision-making, accountability, and data transparency.

Daniel Yohannes took up his duties as US Ambassador to the OECD on May 2,2014.

Daniel Yohannes was nominated by President Barack Obama on September 11,2013, and confirmed by the US Senate on April 9,2014.

Daniel Yohannes worked closely with the Department of Energy of Department of State to chair the International Energy Agency Ministerial, which modernized the IEA and aligned its mission and activities with the current energy landscape.

In 2015, Daniel Yohannes began a sustained effort to strengthen and expand the OECD's work to address rising inequality.

Daniel Yohannes led outreach to the private sector, hosting the launch of the OECD Initiative on Business and Inclusive Growth on November 15,2016.

Daniel Yohannes helped to fund the building of a new research and medical facility at the hospital, the Iris and Michael Smith Clinics and Laboratories, which opened in 2007.

Daniel Yohannes served as co-chair of the 23rd G8 summit in Denver, Colorado, in 1997 along with Bill Coors and Gail Schoettler.

Daniel Yohannes was recognized in Denver for the significant role he played in making the summit possible.

Daniel Yohannes was an advocate for Denver Sister Cities International, playing an influential role in pairing Denver with the Ethiopian city of Axum.

In 1995, after the match was made official, Daniel Yohannes co-led a delegation of Denver officials and business leaders on a visit to Axum.

Daniel Yohannes has served the arts community through his presence on the Smithsonian National Board and the board of directors of Media One.

Beyond providing the new gallery space in the museum, Daniel Yohannes aided in expanding the museum's African art collection.

Daniel Yohannes has lent his expertise to his community by serving on the boards of the University of Washington Michael G Foster School of Business, the Pacific Coast Banking School, the Boy Scouts of America, the First Western Trust Bank, the New Resource Bank, and the board of advisors for the University of Colorado Medical School.

In June 2013, Daniel Yohannes was invited to join the Council of Foreign Relations.

In 2013, Daniel Yohannes was named to Washington Life Magazine's Power 100 list.