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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Businessman-turned-diplomat set to become next US ambassador to PH

Businessman-turned-diplomat set to become next US ambassador to PH

Published Mar 5, 2026 01:26 pm
Lee Lipton, businessman-turned-diplomat, has been nominated once again to become the next United States Ambassador to the Philippines, and his formal appointment is set to be confirmed on Thursday, March 5.
The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee is set to hear Lipton's nomination at 10 am (US time) on Thursday, March 5, as the next Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of the Philippines following the end of the tour of duty of his predecessor, MaryKay Loss Carlson.
US President Donald Trump first nominated Lipton in October 2025 as Washington's next envoy to Manila following Carlson's nearly four-year stint, but Lipton's first nomination was not confirmed due to procedural gridlock in the US Congress.
Lipton was nominated anew on Jan. 13, 2026.
According to the US State Department's report to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee regarding Lipton, he served since January 2025 as its Chief of Staff to the US Mission to the Organization of American States (OAS).
There, he reportedly helped lead US engagement on a range of regional challenges, including the deteriorating security situation in Haiti, and efforts to counter malign influence—particularly from the Chinese Communist Party within the Inter-American System.
Before entering public service, Lipton developed and led a successful business in New York City, the State Department said. He oversaw the design, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of licensed collections for globally recognized brands.
"After selling his company to a publicly traded firm, he transitioned into the hospitality industry, owning several oceanfront restaurants. His landmark restaurants remain among the highest-volume establishments in Palm Beach County, Florida," the report added.
The State Department said that Lipton's 50-year experience in the private sector influenced his diplomatic role as he offered a strong business-to-business perspective to US engagement at the Organization of American States, championing economic engagement, institutional efficiency, and multilateral cooperation in support of regional stability and prosperity.
​"Mr. Lipton’s results-driven mindset and strategic approach, shaped by decades of entrepreneurial leadership, and coupled with his awareness of the nuances in the interactions and negotiation dynamics essential for successful collaborations and achievements, make him well qualified to be the next U​S Ambassador to the Philippines," the report said.

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