Hushang Ansary

Hushang Ansary, "a resident of the United States since 1979 and citizen since 1986, has had a remarkable career in business, economic development and diplomacy. His life story is an illustration of that profound American belief that has inspired successive generations in a spirit of courage, innovation and perseverance.

"His motivating force in the pursuit of a new chapter of his life as a U.S. citizen was his unshakable belief in the time-honored American tradition of starting from scratch. In that spirit, a group that he chaired succeeded in turning an investment of $5 million in oilfield equipment manufacturing into an Initial Public Offering in excess of $700 million on the New York Stock Exchange.  He is Chairman of the Parman Group, a Houston-based, privately held global investment enterprise with extensive interests in oilfield equipment manufacturing, leisure industries, International trade and real estate.

"Mr. Ansary’s ownership and management of enterprises, public and private, has consistently emphasized the human dimensions of corporate citizenship, in particular employee education through on-the-job training and scholarships, healthcare, childcare and youth-related programs, as well as employee ownership at all levels.

"Mr. Ansary is a deeply dedicated philanthropist whose lifelong commitment to the cause of education has had a global dimension. Today, his name is identified with Fellowships at Harvard and Texas A & M Universities, the founding of the James Baker Institute for Public Policy, projects at the Weill Cornell Medical College, the Texas Heart Institute and educational programs in Singapore, medical facilities in Tanzania, the founding of the world’s smallest University on the island of St. Maarten, and a long list of other causes and institutions constantly supported by the Ansary family.

"Hushang Ansary is a Trustee of the George Bush Presidential Library Foundation. He sits on the Board of Overseers of the Weill Cornell Medical College.  He is a John Harvard Fellow and a member of the Senior Advisory Board of the Shorenstein Barone Center for the Press, Politics and Public Policy at the Kennedy School of Government.  He serves on the President’s Council of the Center for Middle East Public Policy at RAND.

"Mr. Ansary had a distinguished career in his native Iran where he served as Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance and as Ambassador to the United States. He led the team of technocrats and economists who were credited for Iran’s economic modernization of the 1970’s which resulted in doubling the National income within a decade and created millions of jobs.

"Mr. Ansary has long championed the cause of International trade and economic cooperation as a tool to enhance greater understanding among Nations. He has received special recognition by TIME Magazine for his contributions in this area.

"Mr. Ansary is a Republican Regent. He was a member of the National Finance Committee of the Bush-Cheney Presidential Campaign.

"Mr. Ansary is a recipient of the distinguished Woodrow Wilson International Center Award and has been decorated by the Governments of Japan, South Korea, Italy, Norway, Spain, Egypt, Romania and Pakistan.

"He is married to the former Shahla Nazemian."


 * Honorary Trustee, Asia Society
 * Major Funder, National Policy Association
 * Former CEO (as of 1998), IRI International
 * Senior Advisor, International Crisis Group