Joseph Popolo Jr.

Joseph Popolo Jr. is the current United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, a businessman, investor, and political donor. Popolo is best known for his leadership at Freeman Company, a global provider of event marketing services, where he served as president from 2001 to 2008 and as CEO from 2008 to 2019. During his tenure, he oversaw the company’s international expansion and led it through substantial revenue growth.

Following his time at Freeman, Popolo founded Charles & Potomac Capital, a Dallas-based private investment firm. He has served on multiple corporate boards, including Ondas Holdings (NASDAQ: ONDS) and Pinnacle Live, and held advisory roles with various firms in technology, media, and finance. He has also been actively involved in education and philanthropy, serving on the boards of Boston College and the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University.

A long-time Republican supporter, Popolo has contributed millions of dollars to party candidates and causes, including significant donations to Donald Trump’s presidential campaigns. His nomination to the ambassadorship included a confirmation process before the U.S. Senate, where he identified trade, security cooperation, and emerging technologies as key priorities. He succeeds Shefali Razdan Duggal as the U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands.