John Roos
| John Roos | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 28th United States Ambassador to Japan | |
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In office August 20, 2009 – August 12, 2013 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Tom Schieffer |
| Succeeded by | Caroline Kennedy |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Victor Roos February 14, 1955 San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Stanford University |
John Victor Roos (born February 14, 1955) is a former United States Ambassador to Japan and former technology lawyer. Before accepting the ambassadorship from President Barack Obama, Roos was the CEO of Silicon Valley-based law firm of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.
Roos was hired by Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in 1985, having previously worked for O’Melveny & Myers in the early 1980s. The company caught the tech startup wave and over the next 25 years became the premier legal firm in the Valley, growing from 50 employees to more than 1,500 worldwide. Roos helped the firm to represent young companies such as Google, Hewlett Packard, and Pixar. After his appointment as CEO in 2004, he steered Wilson Sonsini beyond the burst tech bubble toward a broader client portfolio and a global presence. He also focused on workplace diversity, recognized when the firm was listed during his tenure as having the most diverse group of lawyers and Working Mother magazine named the firm as one of the "50 Best Law Firms for Women."
While building his legal career, Roos participated in political activities and community service. He ran for and won a seat on the San Mateo-Foster City School District Board of Trustees in 1991 and again in 1995. He also served in various capacitities at both Stanford University, where he served on the School of Education's Dean's Advisory Board and Stanford Law School—including as a member of the law school's Dean's Advisory Council. He was also elected to membership in the Stanford Associates for his long-standing volunteer service to the University. Roos also served as an honorary captain—alongside John Elway—for Stanford before the Cardinal's victory in the January 2011 Orange Bowl.
Roos supported Democrats including Mondale, Bradley, Kerry, and Obama, for whom he co-chaired the California financing operation.."
In May 2009 Obama named Roos to replace the departing Tom Schieffer as United States Ambassador to Japan.
On August 7, 2009, the U.S. Senate confirmed Roos by unanimous consent. On August 16, 2009, Roos was formally sworn in as the new ambassador. Three days later he and his family arrived in Japan and on August 20 he presented his credentials to Emperor Akihito.
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