For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 26, 2001

President Bush to Nominate Leach as Ambassador to France

President George W. Bush today announced his intention to nominate Howard H. Leach to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to France.

"Howard Leach is a strong business and community leader who appreciates the importance of good transatlantic relations.  He has helped to improve economic life in the San Francisco area, and will bring this expertise to the economic relationship between the United States and France.  I am confident he will be a distinguished U.S. Ambassador to France," said President Bush.

Leach currently serves as the President of Foley Timber and Land Company in Perry, Florida, and Leach Capital Corporation and Leach McMicking & Company in San Francisco.  He also serves as a Regent of the University of California.  He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, a graduate of Yale University and attended Stanford Graduate School of Business.

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