(Washington, DC) The US-ASEAN Business Council today announced that Martin J. Sullivan, President and CEO of American International Group, Inc. has been elected the Council's new Chairman. Sullivan succeeds Charles Williamson, Chairman and CEO of Unocal Corporation, who has served as Chairman of the Council since 2002.
"The ASEAN region is important to the United States, to American business and to AIG. It's an honor to be elected chairman of this organization, which has a long record of facilitating productive dialogue between U.S. companies and the dynamic ASEAN economies," said Mr. Sullivan.
Martin Sullivan, who has served in a variety of senior positions at AIG during his more than 30-year career there, was elected President and CEO of the Corporation in March 2005. Prior to assuming his current responsibilities, Mr. Sullivan was AIG Vice Chairman and Co-Chief Operating Officer from May 2002. AIG has a major, historic presence throughout Asia, and Mr. Sullivan has had a long-term interest in the region. AIG has for some time been a major supporter of the US-ASEAN Business Council.
Chuck Williamson's Chairmanship of the Council comes to a close after more than three years of service. Mr. Williamson drove the Council to new heights of influence and performance, and guided the organization through a challenging period in the region. Under his leadership, the Council took leading roles in the passage of the US-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Normal Trade Relations (NTR) for Laos, as well as conducting three Executive level trade missions to the region. As Mr. Williamson's tenure comes to a close, the Council leads the private sector effort in the cause of reaching a comprehensive, WTO-consistent FTA with Thailand. The last act of the Williamson-led board was approval earlier this week of an integration plan between the US-ASEAN Business Council and the US-Vietnam Trade Council - another effort where the Chairman took an active and visionary role.
"It has been my distinct honor to serve as Chairman of this Council which represents so many great American companies doing business in this vital region of the world," Williamson said. "I congratulate Martin Sullivan of AIG on his election as Chairman and wish him every success in continuing the Council's essential role in forging bonds of commercial and personal relationships with the nation's of Southeast Asia."
Williamson was appointed CEO of Unocal Corporation in January 2001, and was elected Chairman in October of that year. He currently serves as Executive Vice President Chevron Corporation.