Download Ambassador M. Osman Siddique

Ambassador M. Osman Siddique
1217 Stuart Robeson Drive, McLean, Virginia 22101 USA * (m) 571.239.9948 * (o/f) 703.448.6929 * [email protected]
BRIEF POLITICAL BIO OF AMBASSADOR M. OSMAN SIDDIQUE
Ambassador M. Osman Siddique combines an outstanding professional track record with a powerful
understanding of the international business and government environment, gained during a period of
service to two Presidents as an American Ambassador, preceded by a successful career in business,
spanning over 25 years. With a commanding international network including key government and
business leaders, especially in the United States, the Asia-Pacific Region, Africa and the Middle East, he
is able to provide a range of advice and assistance both to the private and public sector.
Ambassador Siddique is able to draw on his high personal credibility as well as exceptional cross-cultural
insights, to provide a unique combination of skills to help businesses, governments and other institutions
negotiate the complexities of operating successfully in the changing global market place.
A PROVEN TRACK RECORD:
M. Osman Siddique served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of
America to the Republic of Fiji with concurrent accreditations to the Kingdom of Tonga, the Republic of
Nauru and the Government of Tuvalu from 1999-2001. Prior to his appointment as the US Ambassador,
he was the Chairman/CEO of ITT/Travelogue, a company he founded in Washington, DC in 1976 and
which became a major national chain. In 1996, Ambassador Siddique also founded International Travel
Technologies (ITT) and acquired TravelNet, Inc. of Columbus, Ohio. Ambassador Siddique was the
founding member and shareholder of CorpNet International, a consortium of domestic and international
travel companies, with revenues in excess of $ 1.5 billion. Other ventures co-founded by Ambassador
Siddique were in the areas of banking, real-estate and international trade. He is a prolific writer and a
sought after speaker who has been prominently profiled and recognized by Forbes, Inc, Success, Wall
Street Journal, Singapore Straight Times and other national and international media.
Privileged to be the first American Muslim and the first American of South Asian descent to serve as the
United States Ambassador, Siddique is in a unique position to bridge cross-cultural, ethnic and religious
diversity, necessary in dealing with the important issues which the US faces with many Asian, African
and Islamic nations. The current geopolitical reality lends credence to his ability to resolve problems
emanating from concerns that border on the fringes of misperception, mistrust and miscommunication.
Ambassador Siddique is extremely client-focused and mission oriented. He creates value for those
seeking a competitive edge.
Ambassador Siddique has held many important board positions and currently holds a number of company
directorships and advisory positions. In 2011 Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appointed Ambassador
Siddique as a Trustee to the prestigious Board of Governors of the East West Center in Hawaii for a three
year term.
Ambassador M. Osman Siddique
1217 Stuart Robeson Drive, McLean, Virginia 22101 USA * (m) 571.239.9948 * (o/f) 703.448.6929 * [email protected]
PUBLIC SERVICE:
APRIL 1995: Invited by then Secretary of Commerce, Ron Brown, to join him as a member of the
official U.S. delegation to the first Hemispheric Trade and Commerce Forum held in Denver, Colorado.
This forum, which followed the first ever Hemispheric Trade Ministerial meeting, represented a
significant step in creating support for the Summit of the Americas’ mandate to establish a ‘Free Trade
Area of the Americas’ by 2005.
JUNE 1995: Appointed as a Presidential delegate to the first White House Conference on Travel and
Tourism. This historic conference brought policymakers and industry leaders from across the country to
map a strategic course for the industry’s future. With his extensive background in the travel and tourism
industry, Ambassador Siddique was called upon to make major contributions in this conference, laying
out detailed long term strategy to maximize job creation, investment returns and export growth.
JUNE 1996: Served as a member of the National Democratic Institute’s (NDI) International Observer
Delegation to the 7th Bangladesh Parliamentary Elections. As the only Bangladeshi-American team
member on the delegation, Ambassador Siddique played a very important role in liaising and managing
critical links between the delegation Co-Chairs, (the late Congressman Steve Solarz and the former
Foreign Minister of Australia, Andrew Peacock) and the Bangladesh Government, the Election
Commission and its Civil Societies.
DECEMBER 1999: Ambassador Siddique represented the United States as its Co-Leader to the First
Meeting of the Conference of the Pacific Community held in Tahiti which adopted the Tahiti Declaration
that provided for the organizational set up and service regulations for the Secretariat of the Pacific
Community (SPC).
MARCH 2000: President Clinton invited Ambassador Siddique to join the Presidential entourage on his
historic State visit to India and Bangladesh as a member of his Cabinet Delegation.
FEBRUARY 2005: Ambassador Siddique was one of the Co-Chairs to the 2005 US-Islamic World
Forum held in Doha, Qatar, jointly sponsored by the Emir of Qatar and the Brookings Institutions. At that
Forum, he presented a policy paper on economic issues confronting the Arab world, conducted several
roundtables and was instrumental in setting up many of the platform agendas.
NOVEMBER 2012: King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia who prefers also to be
known as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, invited Ambassador Siddique as his personal Royal
Guest to that years’ annual Hajj Pilgrimage. He was amongst a handful of Muslim leaders from all over
the world to be honored with this privilege. He was personally greeted by King Abdullah and his heir
apparent, H.H. Prince Salman at the Mena Palace.
Ambassador Siddique writes and speaks extensively on many contemporary issues confronting the United
States and the Muslim world and is in the forefront of discussions and policy debates towards greater
understanding between the two.
Ambassador M. Osman Siddique
1217 Stuart Robeson Drive, McLean, Virginia 22101 USA * (m) 571.239.9948 * (o/f) 703.448.6929 * [email protected]
FIJI COUP 2000:
On May 19, 2000, the democratically elected government of Fiji was overthrown by a violent coup-de-tat
orchestrated by disgruntled segments of the indigenous Fijian population in collaboration with the Fijian
military. Ambassador Siddique was front and center during this entire crisis and exerted unqualified
leadership towards its resolution. He was quickly elevated to lead the charge against the coup makers and
initiated steps to protect the lives of all the hostages held within the premises of the Parliament, including
those of the Prime Minister, members of his cabinet and many lawmakers. With the support of his
Australian and New Zealand counterparts, Ambassador Siddique was the lead spokesperson to the local
and international media and became the interlocutor between the various branches of the Fijian
Government, business institutions and civil societies. He played an important role in making the military
back down, install a neutral interim government, put the coup leaders behind bars, initiate a constitution
review committee and set dates for new parliamentary elections. The work was so pivotal that President
George W. Bush asked Ambassador Siddique to continue with his assignment till the process of
reconciliation and rehabilitation was successfully completed.
Ambassador Siddique received his MBA from the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University,
Bloomington, in 1974. He and his wife, Catherine, have four children. They have been active and
involved in many philanthropic and community based organizations. They live in McLean, Virginia.