WASHINGTON, D.C.— The U.S. Chamber of Commerce made two leadership announcements for its International Affairs Division today. Charles Freeman has been hired as Senior Vice President for Asia, and Neil Herrington has been promoted to Senior Vice President for the Americas.
“This is a critical time for the business community to be engaged in international trade and investment policy. We are excited to welcome Charles to our team and for Neil to take on a greater leadership role,” said Myron Brilliant, Executive Vice President and Head of International Affairs for the U.S. Chamber. “We constantly endeavor to involve the brightest minds and the smartest voices in the work we do on behalf of U.S. businesses, and I have the utmost confidence that Charles, Neil, and the teams they lead will continue to make great contributions to the important work taking place in the regions they oversee.”
Freeman joins the Chamber from Bower Group Asia, where he was Managing Director for China. He has been helping companies navigate complex Asia-Pacific markets for 25 years, including service in government and experience in business, law, and academia prior to his consulting work. He served as Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for China Affairs and as PepsiCo’s Vice President for Global Public Policy and Government Affairs. Freeman earned his doctor of law degree from Boston University’s School of Law and bachelor’s degree in Asian studies from Tufts University. He did post-graduate work at Fudan University in Shanghai and studied Mandarin Chinese at the Taipei Language Institute.
“Charles’s extensive background in this major global market is a welcome addition to our top-flight Asia team, and his leadership will be a tremendous asset to our efforts in the months and years ahead,” said Brilliant.
Herrington was previously Vice President for the U.S. Chamber’s Americas division. Before joining the U.S. Chamber, he served as International Strategic Planning Lead at Raytheon Corporation’s principal global naval and marine products division and as Senior Trade Policy Advisor for Asia and Africa to the Deputy U.S. Trade Representative. Prior to serving at USTR, Neil spent seven years in Latin America holding positions in strategic planning, marketing, and trade in Brazil and Mexico. He earned his MBA from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, and he holds a Master of Arts degree in international management from the Lauder Institute of International Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Occidental College.
“Neil has been an integral part of our efforts in a critical region of the world since the first day he joined our team. On trade and other key issues in the hemisphere, his expertise is exceptional, and we have no doubt he’ll achieve even greater results on behalf of our members in this expanded role,” said Brilliant.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations. Its International Affairs division includes more than 80 regional and policy experts and 25 country- and region-specific business councils and initiatives. The U.S. Chamber also works closely with 117 American Chambers of Commerce abroad.
