Trump names billionaire investment banker as ambassador to Britain

Warren Stephens is head of Stephens Inc, a privately owned diversified financial services firm. Its headquarters are in Little Rock, Arkansas.

President-elect Donald Trump has named billionaire investment banker Warren Stephens as his envoy to Britain, a prestigious posting for the Republican donor whose contributions this year included $2m (€1.9m) to a Trump-backing super political action committee (PAC).

Trump, in a post on his Truth Social site on Monday evening, announced he was selecting Stephens to be the US ambassador to the Court of Saint James. The appointment is subject to Senate approval.

“Warren has always dreamed of serving the United States full time. I am thrilled that he will now have that opportunity as the top Diplomat, representing the USA to one of America’s most cherished and beloved Allies,” Trump said in his post.

In a statement made after the announcement, Stephens said: “It is my honor to be nominated by President Trump as Ambassador of the United States to the Court of St James’s.

“I have expressed to President Trump that I would be extremely proud to serve our country and his administration, working to implement the President’s agenda and further strengthen the long-standing alliance between the United States and the United Kingdom. Service to country has been a guiding principle throughout my life, and I am humbled and thankful for this opportunity.”

Stephens is the chairman, president and CEO of is a privately owned diversified financial services firm headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. He took over from his father, Jack, as president and CEO of the company in 1986 and became chairman in 2005. At the start of his tenure as CEO, the firm employed 125 people. It now employs more than 1200 people in three countries.

A biography of the future ambassador to the UK says of Warren Stephens: “Under his leadership, the firm has remained true to its mission of providing capital to middle-market and small-cap companies while expanding into major US markets and opening Stephens Europe offices in London and Frankfurt.

“Through its public finance arm, Stephens Inc. has been recognized for its integral role in revitalizing local economies, underwriting infrastructure and education projects around the Southeastern United States.”

During his first term, President-elect Trump chose Robert “Woody” Johnson, a contributor to his campaign and the owner of the New York Jets football team, as the US ambassador to the UK.

Trump has already named many of his nominees for his Cabinet and high-profile diplomatic posts, assembling a group of staunch loyalists. Over the weekend, Trump announced he intended to nominate property developer Charles Kushner, father of his son-in-law Jared, to serve as ambassador to France.