The Washington Diplomat

Appointments - September 2004

Jamaica
• Gordon Shirley became ambassador of Jamaica to the United States and Jamaica’s permanent representative to the Organization of American States in July. Ambassador Shirley began his career at Alcan Jamaica Ltd., where he worked as senior mechanical engineer (1977-82). He then went on to become an assistant professor of operations management at the University of California, Los Angeles (1987-91). Ambassador Shirley returned to his country to work at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, where he served as head of the Department of Management Services (1992-97). While at the university, he also held posts as a professor of management (1991-2004), executive director of the Mona School of Business (1997-2004), and academic director of the Master’s of Science Program in Computer-Based Management Information Systems (1994-2004). In addition, he has won a number of scholarships and awards, including the Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration Doctoral Fellowship. Ambassador Shirley holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of the West Indies, as well as a master’s degree in business administration in operations and finance and a doctorate in business administration and operations management from Harvard University.

Slovakia
• Martin Kabáe assumed the position of third secretary (press) on July 1, replacing Viera Viskupová, who departed the post on June 30.

Switzerland
• Minister Alexander Wittwer assumed the positions of deputy chief of mission and head of the Political Section of the Swiss Embassy in August. Wittwer is a s enior diplomat who held postings in Bern, Washington, Harare and Budapest. Wittwer replaces Minister Bénédict de Cerjat, who became the Swiss ambassador to Vietnam in September.

Thailand
• Kasit Piromya became ambassador of Thailand to the United States on July 15. Ambassador Piromya previously served as ambassador to a number of countries, including Japan (2001-04), Germany (1997-2001), Indonesia and Papua New Guinea (1994-96), and the Soviet Union and Mongolia (1991-93). In addition, he has served as the ambassador attached to the Ministry’s Office of the Permanent Secretary, director-general of Department of International Organizations, deputy director-general of the Department of Economic Affairs, director of the Policy and Planning Division of the Office of the Permanent Secretary, director of the Economic Information Division at the Department of Economic Affairs, and director of the Commerce and Industry Division at the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Department. Ambassador Piromya, who joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1968, has also held posts as first, second and third secretary to various departments and embassies. He received a bachelor’s degree in international affairs from Georgetown University, a diploma in international relations, and a master’s degree in social science from the Institute of Social Studies at the Hague, and he has studied at the National Defense College of Thailand. Ambassador Piromya is married with one child.