Marc Dillard takes charge at US Embassy in Nairobi after Meg Whitman's exit
By Maureen Kinyanjui |
His extensive African experience includes postings in Malawi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, further cementing his expertise in the region.
With the resignation of Meg Whitman as the United States Ambassador to Kenya, Marc Dillard has stepped in to lead the US Embassy in Nairobi in an acting capacity.
But who is this seasoned diplomat now at the helm of one of the US's most critical diplomatic missions in Africa?
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Marc Dillard is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service with a distinguished career spanning over 25 years.
Since joining the US State Department in 1998, Dillard has held various roles across the globe, building a reputation as an adept and experienced diplomat.
Before his recent appointment as Chargé d'Affaires at the US Embassy in Kenya, Dillard served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Nairobi from August 2022.
This role positioned him as the second-highest-ranking official at the embassy, providing him with deep insight into US-Kenya relations.
Dillard's previous assignments include a three-year stint as Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Budapest from 2019 to 2022.
He also served as Director of the Office of Economic Policy Analysis and Public Diplomacy in the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, as well as Counsellor for Political and Economic Affairs at the US Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria.
African experience
His extensive African experience includes postings in Malawi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, further cementing his expertise in the region.
Beyond Africa, he has held positions in Japan and Korea and served as a Senior Watch Officer at the State Department Operations Centre.
Dillard's academic background reflects his deep understanding of global politics and economics.
He holds a bachelor's degree in History from Duke University and a doctorate in Political Economy and Public Policy from the University of Southern California.
Before his career in diplomacy, Dillard worked as a private-sector consultant and taught economics in university.
His exemplary service has earned him multiple State Department Superior and Meritorious Honour Awards.
Dillard is married to Julia Dillard, who is also a foreign service officer and together they have two children.
Marc Dillard's appointment comes as Meg Whitman ends her two-year tenure as US Ambassador to Kenya. Whitman announced her resignation on November 13, 2024, citing her time in Kenya as "an honour and privilege".
"It has been an honour to serve as the US Ambassador to Kenya for the past two years. As I depart, please join me in welcoming career diplomat Marc Dillard, who will lead the embassy as Chargé d'Affaires," Whitman stated in her farewell announcement on November 23, 2024.
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