Charles J. Swindells

Charles J. Swindells presented his credentials to New Zealand's Governor-General, the Honorable Dame Silvia Cartwright PCNZM, DBE, in Wellington on October 12, 2001.

His career in the investment and fiduciary services industry spans over 30 years. Before becoming Ambassador, Mr. Swindells was Vice Chairman of US Trust Company, N.A.; Chairman and CEO of the Capital Trust Management Corporation; and Managing Director/Founder of Capital Trust Company. Previously, Mr. Swindells was one of five members on the Oregon Investment Council overseeing the $20 billion Public Employee Retirement Fund Investment Portfolio.

He formerly served as Chairman of the Board for Lewis & Clark College; a Trustee and past Chairman of the Board for Oregon Public Broadcasting; a Trustee for the Portland Art Museum; Chairman of the Providence/St. Vincent Heart Institute Advisory Board and a Trustee for Providence/St. Vincent Medical Foundation; an Executive Committee member for Young Life/ Washington Family Ranch; a Board member for Chess for Success; an advisory committee member for New Avenues for Youth; a Board member for the Oregon Growth Account; and on the Boards of Portland State University's College of Urban and Public Affairs Advisory Council, College of Engineering and Computer Science and the Center for Writing Excellence. Mr. Swindells has also served as Chairman of World Wide Value Fund, a closed-end investment company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Mr. Swindells received his B.S. degree from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon and attended Willamette Law School in Salem, Oregon, for two years. In May 2001, he received an Honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) degree from Lewis & Clark College. He has completed eighteen national and international marathons, which have included: The New York, Boston, Paris, Berlin, Athens, and London Marathons. He is married to Caroline and has two grown children.

Ambassadorial Post(s)

New Zealand, (2001 - 2005)

Areas of Expertise