Washington, D.C. – On July 5, April H. Foley was sworn in as the new Ambassador of the United States to Hungary at a ceremony in the State Department’s Indian Treaty Room. The Hungarian American Coalition was represented at the ceremony by Edith Lauer, Chair Emerita.

Before administering the oath to Ms. Foley, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice introduced the new Ambassador: “April and Hungary are made for each other. She will do a great job representing American interests and values in Hungary, a dependable partner of the United States.” The Secretary mentioned the importance of Ms. Foley’s experience in “transformational diplomacy” during her term at the Export-Import Bank, which included trips to Baghdad.

Dr. Rice also mentioned that “Hungary is a wonderful place to serve…there is no better symbol for the love of liberty or for a nation that has undergone a successful democratic transformation.”

After the swearing in, Ms. Foley thanked the President and Secretary for having the confidence in her to appoint her Ambassador. She graciously thanked everyone who had helped prepare her for her assignment, including Hungarian Ambassador Andras Simonyi, Hungarian Desk Officer Michelle Labonte, and her Hungarian language teachers. She especially thanked her family and close friends for their support – “your love and friendship sustain me” – and mentioned how much it would have meant to her, and to her parents and late husband, if they could have witnessed her swearing-in as Ambassador to the Republic of Hungary.

Ms. Foley has had an extensive career in professional management. After serving on the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the U.S., she became its First Vice President and Vice Chairman. Her career as a business executive includes a 17-year stint at PepsiCo in roles including strategic planning, financial management, and mergers and acquisitions. She also worked for Pfizer and The Reader’s Digest.

In addition to her business experience, she has held significant volunteer leadership positions in prestigious educational, social and historical institutions. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Smith College and an MBA from Harvard University. She is a widow with three children.