Ray Washburne

Ray Washburne
President and CEO of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation
Assumed office
September 5, 2017
President Donald Trump
Preceded by Elizabeth Littlefield
Personal details
Born 1960 (age 57–58)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Political party Republican
Education Southern Methodist University (BA)

Ray Willets Washburne is an American businessman, political fundraiser, and government official who currently serves as President and CEO of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.[1][2]

Early life and education

Washburne was born in Dallas, Texas in 1960, and was raised in Highland Park, later graduating from Southern Methodist University. In 1997 he married Heather Hill, a descendant of H. L. Hunt.[3]

Business career

Washburne is a co-founder of the M Crowd Restaurant Group, owning forty-six restaurants, including the Mi Cocina and Taco Diner restaurant chains.[3][4] He also has real-estate developments in several states and is the CEO of Charter Holdings. In 2009, Washburne and his wife Heather, along with Stephen Summers and his spouse Elisa Summers, who is Heather's sister, bought the Highland Park Village, an upscale shopping center in Dallas, for $170 million.[3][4]

Political fundraising

Washburne was actively involved in raising money for George W. Bush's presidential campaigns in both 2000 and 2004, and in the following years continued to raise money for the Republican Party.[5] Later in the 2012 presidential election, he backed Mitt Romney, the Republican Party's nominee, and became the campaign's Texas co-chair, while also raising money.[6][7] Following the 2012 election, in which Romney was defeated, Washburne became the finance chairman of the Republican National Committee, during which he raised $160 million for the party.

In 2015, he became a part of Chris Christie's 2016 campaign for president, serving as the finance director.[7] Christie subsequently conceded in the race, and after Donald Trump emerged as the Republican front-runner, Washburne raised money for Trump's campaign and became the vice chairman of the Trump Victory Committee, which acted as a bridge between the campaign and the RNC.[8][9]

References

  1. ↑ Kelly, Caroline (August 3, 2017). "Senate confirms Hutchison for NATO, Washburne for investment office". Dallas News. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  2. ↑ Livingston, Abby. "Trump taps Dallas businessman Ray Washburne for administration post". Texas Tribune. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 Guinto, Joseph. "The New Emperor of Highland Park Village". D Magazine. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  4. 1 2 Auer, Tonie. "Q&A With Highland Park Village Owner Ray Washburne". Bisnow. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  5. ↑ BARBARO, MICHAEL; HABERMAN, MAGGIE. "Bush Campaign's Demand for Fidelity Ruffles Some Republican Rivals". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  6. ↑ "Romney Camp Slow To Attract Former Bush Donors". NPR. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
  7. 1 2 Gillman, Todd. "Chris Christie nabs Ray Washburne as finance chief for 2016: report". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  8. ↑ Svitek, Patrick. "With Some Uncertainty, Texas Donors Begin Pitching in for Trump". Texas Tribune. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  9. ↑ "Trump Seeks to Install Christie Ally as Top Republican Party Fundraiser". Bloomberg. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
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