James R. Jones
Ambassador James ‘Jim’ R. Jones is a Senior Director of Albright Stonebridge Group, a global strategy firm, where he assists clients with Latin America issues. Ambassador Jones is a Partner of Manatt Jones Global Strategies, LLC.
A former U.S. Ambassador and Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Mr. Jones has worked extensively with global distribution and marketing organizations targeting Latin America, Asia and the Middle East. Mr. Jones’ expertise focuses on international trade, investment and commerce, business-government relations and financial services.
Prior to joining Manatt, Mr. Jones served as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico (1993-1997), where he was very successful in his leadership during the Mexican peso crisis, the passage and implementation of NAFTA, and in developing new, cooperative efforts to combat drug trafficking. He also assisted U.S. businesses with commercial ventures in Mexico.
Mr. Jones’ previous experience also includes the position of President at Warnaco International, as well as Chairman and CEO of the American Stock Exchange in New York (1989-1993). During his tenure at AMEX, listings, revenues and market share increased.
As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma for 14 years (1973-1987), he was Chairman of the House Budget Committee and a ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee, where he was active in tax, international trade, Social Security and healthcare policy.
Mr. Jones was only 28 when President Lyndon Johnson selected him as Appointments Secretary, the position presently entitled Chief of Staff. He was the youngest person in history to hold this position.
Mr. Jones serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the San Luis Corporation and the Kansas City Southern Railway. He is also Chairman of Meridian International and the GlobeRanger Corporation. Mr. Jones formerly served on the Board of Directors of Anheuser Busch, Grupo Modelo, and the Keyspan Energy Corporation.
He currently serves as Director of the National Crime Prevention Council, Vice Chairman of the Homeland Security Southwest Border Task Force, and Chairman of World Affairs Councils of America.
He formerly served on the boards of the Kaiser Family Foundation and the American Red Cross, and was the former Chairman of the U.S.-Mexico Business Commission. Mr. Jones earned his B.A. from the University of Oklahoma, and his LL.B degree from Georgetown University Law School.