Matthew Barzun

Matthew Barzun
United States Ambassador to Sweden
In office August 12, 2009 – 2011
Preceded by	Michael M. Wood
Personal details
Born	October 23, 1970 (1970-10-23) (age 41) New York, New York, USA
Nationality	American
Spouse(s)	Brooke Brown Barzun
Alma mater	Harvard College
Religion	Roman Catholic

Matthew Winthrop Barzun (born October 23, 1970 in New York City, New York) was selected by President Barack Obama as National Finance Chair for the Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2012.^[1] He is an American business executive who is known for his work with CNET Networks and for his volunteer work on Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign.^[2][3] He served as U.S. Ambassador to Sweden from 2009 to 2011.

Education

Barzun grew up in Lincoln, Massachusetts and received his A.B. in history and literature magna cum laude from Harvard College in 1993. In his testimony to the Senate during his confirmation vetting, Barzun noted that he had served as a summer intern to Massachusetts Senator John Kerry in 1989. Prior to his college education Matthew Barzun was a student at St. Paul’s School in New Hampshire. After graduating from Harvard College, Barzun began working with CNET Networks.

Political experience

Barzun’s small-dollar fundraisers were supporter driven via online event pages, and replicated throughout the country.

In The Audacity to Win, author and political strategist David Plouffe describes Matthew Barzun’s grassroots campaign idea as “citizen fundraisers” that drove Obama’s connection with supporters.^[4]

The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, chaired by Senator John Kerry, was expected to approve Barzun's nomination during the week of 3–7 August 2009, but it was unknown if the full Senate would vote on it before recessing on 7 August.^[5] The nomination was confirmed on August 7 and Barzun was sworn in on August 12.

Diplomacy

Barzun was sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to Sweden on August 12, 2009, and presented his credentials to King Carl XVI Gustaf on August 21, 2009.^[6] Barzun prioritized outreach and personal engagement, launching the U.S. Embassy Road Show that brings embassy personnel, resources, and exhibits out of Stockholm to smaller cities and towns.^[7] In partnership with the Swedish government, he also created the Swedish American Green Alliance where Swedes and Americans share news and ideas toward a clean energy future.^[8]

Personal

Matthew Barzun is a descendent of John Winthrop, the first governor of Massachusetts, and Lucretia Mott,^[9] a proponent of women's rights. He is married (since 1999) to Brooke Brown Barzun. They have three children, Jacques Barzun II, Eleanor Barzun, and Charles Barzun. Matthew Barzun’s grandfather is the renowned French-born American cultural historian and former Columbia University professor, Jacques Martin Barzun. He is one of four children, his younger sister is film producer Lucy Barzun Donnelly, Emmy and Golden Globe winner for her work producing Grey Gardens for HBO. His youngest brother, Charles Barzun, is a professor of law at the University of Virginia.

Board memberships

• Center for Interfaith Relations
• Louisville Public Media
• Louisville Free Public Library Foundation
• Louisville Urban League
• Teach Kentucky
• Member, Prichard Committee
• Greater Louisville Project

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Michael Wood	U.S. Ambassador to Sweden 2009 –	Succeeded by Incumbent

References

1. ^ Johnson, Glen "Mass. Native to Oversee Obama's Fundraising Effort" [1] Apr 29, 2011
2. ^ Gerth, Joseph "Innovator aided march to presidency" Louisville courier-Journal Dec 28, 2008
3. ^ Time.com
4. ^ Plouffe, David (2009). The Audacity to Win. New York: Viking Adult. ISBN 978-0670021338. 
5. ^ Kentucky Public Radio news for 3 August 2009. http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/weku/news.newsmain/article/0/0/1537973/Central.and.Eastern.Kentucky/Kentuckian.Picked.for.Swedish.Ambassador
6. ^ http://stockholm.usembassy.gov/newsflash/barzun_testimony.html
7. ^ Carlbom, Mats. "En pannkaksvändare på Sverigeturné". Dagens Nyheter. http://www.dn.se/livsstil/reportage/en-pannkaksvandare-pa-sverigeturne. Retrieved 5/02/2011. 
8. ^ Swedish American Green Alliance blog http://sagastory.blogspot.com
9. ^ Dagens Nyheter chat with public as newly appointed Ambassador to Sweden

Persondata
Name	Barzun, Matthew
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	October 23, 1970
Place of birth	New York, New York, USA
Date of death
Place of death