US President Barack Obama has officially nominated Suzi LeVine as the next ambassador to Switzerland. She succeeds Donald S. Beyer, who left his post in May 2013.
The US Senate now has to confirm the presidential nomination, a decision which is expected in spring.
LeVine, who describes herself on the professional social networking site, LinkedIn, as a «citizen, volunteer and mom», previously worked for Microsoft. She studied English and engineering.
She was an active campaigner and fundraiser in Obama’s second run for the White House, raising between $450,000 and one million (CHF400,000 to 900,000). She is currently chair of the Advisory Board of the Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences at the University of Washington.
It is not unusual for US ambassadorial posts to go to non-career diplomats, in return for «services rendered».