Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan John V. Roos Joins Centerview Partners as Senior Advisor

NEW YORK, April 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Centerview Partners announced today that John V. Roos, United States Ambassador to Japan from 2009 – 2013 and before that Chief Executive Officer and Senior Partner at Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati, has joined the firm as Senior Advisor.  In this role, Ambassador Roos will provide strategic counsel to Centerview and its clients, leveraging his broad experience spanning business, government affairs, and foreign relations.

"John's input and advice is sought out by political and business leaders globally looking to capitalize on his leadership track record in Silicon Valley, his insights into doing business in Japan, and his strong relationships in both the private and public sector.  We are pleased to partner with John as he brings his unique set of skills to Centerview and our clients," said Blair Effron, co-founder of Centerview. 

David Handler, the co-head of Centerview's Technology Practice, added, "For many years, John has been well-regarded as a key advisor to some of the most iconic technology companies in Silicon Valley, guiding them through all phases of their evolution.  John brought that same spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation as the U.S. Ambassador to Japan, which earned him the respect of the Government of Japan, its people and many of its leading companies." 

"I chose to join Centerview because of its reputation as a premier advisory firm recognized for helping its clients execute their most important and complex large-scale, international transactions," said Ambassador Roos.  "Centerview's long-term partnership approach to its client relationships, its industry-leading technology practice, and the firm's impact with senior managements and Boards of Directors mesh perfectly with my 35 years of professional experience," he added.

Ambassador Roos managed U.S.-Japan relations through several pivotal shifts in government and led the U.S. response effort on the ground to the natural disasters and nuclear crisis in Japan in 2011.  Following the relief efforts, Ambassador Roos spearheaded the creation of the unique TOMODACHI ("friend" in Japanese) Initiative with an ambitious mission to identify and invest in the next generation of Japanese and American leaders.  Described by the White House as a "path breaking public-private partnership," supported by over eighty companies, organizations and individuals from the U.S. and Japan, the TOMODACHI Initiative has served over 2,300 Japanese and American youth since its inception.  During the tenure of Ambassador Roos, Japanese public support for the United States reached historically high favorability rankings and in 2011, Ambassador Roos received the State Department's prestigious Sue M. Cobb Award for Exemplary Diplomatic Service, which is presented to the Non-Career Ambassador who has used private sector leadership and management skills to make a significant impact on bilateral or multilateral relations.

Prior to his appointment as U.S. Ambassador, Roos served as Chief Executive Officer and Senior Partner at Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati, the premier provider of legal services to technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises worldwide.  He led the firm through multiple waves of innovation in Silicon Valley as the firm grew to more than 1,250 employees worldwide.

Ambassador Roos grew up in San Francisco and attended Stanford University, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa with Honors and Distinction, and Stanford Law School, earning his Juris Doctor in 1980, achieving Order of the Coif.  Prior to becoming Ambassador to Japan, Ambassador Roos served on the Stanford School of Education Dean's Advisory Board and on the Law School Dean's Advisory Council and was a member of the Stanford Associates for his long-standing volunteer service to the University. Ambassador Roos is on the Board of Directors of Salesforce.com and is Chairman of the Roos Group, which provides support to a select group of companies engaged in Japan/U.S. commercial activities.  He also continues to serve on the Advisory Board of the TOMODACHI Initiative and the Global Advisory Board of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group.

About Centerview Partners
Centerview Partners, based in New York, and with offices in London, Los Angeles, Menlo Park and San Francisco, operates an international investment banking advisory practice specializing in independent advice and other client services capitalizing on the experience of its principals.  The Firm provides senior-level counsel to both domestic and international clients and its business includes general and M&A advisory as well as restructuring.  Since its founding in 2006, the firm has advised clients in nearly $800 billion of transactions.  Members of the firm have experience in a range of industries including the consumer products, financial services, food and beverage, entertainment and media, general industrial, healthcare, technology, telecommunications, restructuring and retail sectors.

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SOURCE Centerview Partners