Mark Palmer, Vice President

Mark Palmer is the President of Capital Development Company (CDC), which supports local partners in launching new enterprises in Washington DC, Europe, and Asia. He founded Central European Media Enterprises Ltd. (CME), which develops and operates national television and radio stations from Bucharest, Ljubijana, Prague, Bratislava, Warsaw and Kiev. Mr. Palmer was U.S. Ambassador to Hungary from 1986-90 and Deputy Assistant of State in charge of U.S. relations with the Soviet Union and East Central Europe (1982-86). He was Director of the State Department’s Office of Strategic Nuclear and Conventional Arms Control and served as a Foreign Service Officer in Moscow, Belgrade, Budapest and New Delhi. Mr. Palmer has written speeches for three Presidents and six Secretaries of State including service as chief speechwriter for Henry Kissinger (1973-75). Ambassador Palmer is a co-founder and sits on the board of the National Endowment for Democracy, and is currently Vice Chairman of the Board of Freedom House. He is also a member of the board of the School for Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University; International Research & Exchanges Board; the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, Georgetown University; and the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training.