John Jovanovic has promised a “bold new era” after the US Senate voted to confirm him as the next president and chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (US Exim).
Fifty-one senators backed Jovanovic, who President Donald Trump nominated to lead the agency in March, while 47 voted against. The September 18 vote was split down party lines.
“It’s truly the honour of a lifetime,” Jovanovic said in a video released on September 19. “Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, Exim will put American jobs first, help rebuild our industrial capacity, and make sure our companies are treated fairly everywhere around the world.”
“Our mission is clear: more exports, more jobs, a stronger America. Now let’s get to work.”
Until July, Jovanovic had served as chief strategy officer at Asplundh Tree Expert, a US-headquartered firm that provides line clearance and infrastructure services.
Over the past decade, he has also held roles at energy and commodities investment platform Nova Fleet, commodities trader Mercuria, and the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC).
At the DFC, Jovanovic served as a managing director for the Western Balkans between September 2020 and March 2021.
In a statement released by the agency last week, Jovanovic said “this bold new era at Exim will move faster, deliver smarter, and ensure US workers never fight with one hand tied behind their back – and we will do it together with the Administration, Congress, and our partners in the private sector”.
Since former chair Reta Jo Lewis departed US Exim in January, it has been led by interim chair Spencer Bachus.
The agency has maintained a steady stream of announcements during the year, including confirming US$4.7bn in financing for a Mozambique LNG project over which it is being sued and ending restrictions on support for coal-fired power.
Jovanovic is married to Daphne Oz, daughter of TV personality Dr Mehmet Oz, who is an ally of Trump and now leads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
