William E. Kennard served as United States Ambassador to the European Union from 2009 to 2013. In this role, Kennard worked to promote transatlantic trade and investment and to eliminate regulatory barriers to commerce. Currently, Kennard is Chairman and Co-Founder of Velocitas Partners, LLC, an asset management firm. Kennard is also a member of the operating executive board of Staple Street Capital, a private equity firm.

U.S. News and World Report dubbed Kennard a “consumer champion for the digital age.” Kennard has awards from Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union. Kennard serves as a Fellow of the Yale Corporation and is a member of Secretary of State John Kerry’s Foreign Affairs Policy Board.

Kennard holds a B.A. degree from Stanford University and a J.D. from Yale Law School. Kennard also has Honorary degrees from Gallaudet University, Long Island University and Howard University.