Washington, D.C. – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) Foundation is pleased to announce the election of Ambassador Demetrios Marantis as its new President. Marantis, a former Acting and Deputy U.S. Trade Representative with extensive experience in international trade policy, will lead the Foundation’s efforts to educate stakeholders on the importance of global commerce. Demetrios will succeed Leslie Griffin, who served as President of the NFTC Foundation for the last 5 years.
“We are grateful to Ambassador Marantis for taking on this leadership role as NFTC Foundation President,” said Jake Colvin, President of the NFTC. “We look forward to leveraging his unique expertise and passion for advancing international trade and investment to expand the Foundation’s leadership and initiatives.”
Ambassador Marantis has had a distinguished career in both the public and private sectors. In addition to serving as Acting and Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, where he played a key role in President Obama’s cabinet negotiating trade agreements with China and throughout Asia and Africa, he has held senior roles at Visa, Square, and other global organizations. His full bio is below.
“On behalf of the NFTC Foundation, we want to take this opportunity to thank Leslie Griffin for her outstanding leadership and commitment to the Foundation’s work,” said Hua Wang, Executive Director of the NFTC Foundation’s Global Innovation Forum (GIF). “Her efforts to promote small businesses and her collaboration with GIF have left a lasting impact.”
During her tenure, Griffin spearheaded numerous initiatives to promote the interests of small businesses and advance the Foundation’s mission in Boston and Washington, DC. She will continue to serve on the Foundation’s board.
About the NFTC Foundation
The NFTC Foundation is committed to promoting education and engagement around the critical role of trade and investment in driving economic growth and opportunity. Its major activities include hosting the annual World Trade Dinner, the International Tax Conference, and other high-impact educational events along with supporting and disseminating research and data about the opportunities and challenges of engaging in the global marketplace. The Foundation also houses the Global Innovation Forum (GIF), which elevates the voices of small businesses and entrepreneurs in the policy landscape by fostering meaningful connections with government officials, civil society, and private sector leaders. Through educational events, thought leadership, and collaboration with business, nonprofit and government stakeholders worldwide, the Foundation plays a pivotal role in advancing a robust and inclusive global trade system.
Biography of Ambassador Demetrios Marantis
Ambassador Demetrios Marantis has deep expertise in helping public and private companies integrate geopolitical, regulatory, sustainability, and philanthropic priorities into their strategy and risk management. A former Acting and Deputy United States Trade Representative and member of President Obama’s Cabinet, Ambassador Marantis brought his extensive experience negotiating trade agreements with China and throughout Asia and Africa to senior executive roles at J.P. Morgan Chase, Visa, and Square. He currently runs a global geopolitical advisory firm, sits on several advisory boards, and speaks on global trade and other geopolitical issues. Based in Washington, DC, Ambassador Marantis received his undergraduate degree in public and international affairs from Princeton University in 1990 and his JD from Harvard Law School in 1993.
Ambassador Marantis served as the Global Head of Corporate Responsibility for J.P. Morgan Chase from 2021 to 2023, where he led a global team of over 400 professionals that oversaw the firm’s philanthropic initiatives, government relations, sustainability, and public policy. He served as Senior Vice President, Global Head of Government Engagement at Visa, from 2015 to 2021, where he developed proactive strategies to engage and partner with governments across the globe to advance the growth of electronic payments. Prior to Visa, Marantis founded and led the government relations and public policy team at Square, a high-growth international fintech.
Ambassador Marantis also has deep experience in government. He served as the Acting and Deputy United States Trade Representative from May 2009 until June 2013. Nominated by President Obama, Marantis was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and served with the rank of Ambassador. Among his many accomplishments, Marantis concluded and secured congressional passage of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, designed and led negotiations for the Trans Pacific Partnership, spearheaded trade negotiations with China as well as India, Indonesia, Vietnam, throughout Africa, and negotiated the first-ever agreement in APEC to reduce tariffs on environmental goods.
Immediately prior, Marantis spent five years as the Chief International Trade Counsel to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee. He worked in Hanoi for two years as the Chief Legal Advisor for the U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council, served as Associate General Counsel at USTR from 1998 to 2002, and worked in the Brussels and DC offices of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer and Feld from 1993 to 1998.
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About the NFTC
The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) is the premier business association advancing trade and tax policies that support access to the global marketplace. Founded in 1914, NFTC promotes an open, rules-based global economy on behalf of a diverse membership of U.S.-based businesses.
About GIF
The Global Innovation Forum (GIF), an educational project of the 501(c)(3) National Foreign Trade Council Foundation, is a nonprofit that connects entrepreneur, small business, corporate, development, and university communities with policymakers to explore the opportunities and challenges of engaging in the global marketplace.