Profile: Louis Susman, US Ambassador to Britain

THE US embassies in London and Paris have often been described as the retirement retreat of wealthy friends of US presidents, a profile which Louis Susman certainly fits.

A graduate of the University of Michigan he became a lawyer before pursuing a long career as an investment banker.

He was a major figure in Chicago’s powerful financial district and became vice-chairman of Citigroup Global Markets there.

His retirement coincided with the taxpayer bail-out of the bank and the financial crisis, although by then he was focusing more on political activities.

As part of the Chicago establishment, and therefore highly influential in the Democratic Party, he was also a significant figure in the party, serving on its National Committee between 1972 and 1982. He was also a major fundraiser, most recently for John Kerry’s failed attempt at the presidency in 2004 and Barack Obama’s success in 2008.

His reward for his support was one of the most sought-after diplomatic posts: he was sworn into office by Hillary Clinton, pictured above, in January 2009 as the new Ambassador to Britain.

He arrived just as Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi, convicted for 270 counts of murder in the Lockerbie bombing, was released on compassionate grounds by the Scottish Government.