Welcoming Ambassador Adrian Zuckerman as Chair and Expanding Our Leadership Team
Alianta is continuing its commitment to strengthening the U.S.–Romania relationship. We are proud to announce the new members of its Board of Directors, including the election of Ambassador Adrian Zuckerman (Ret) as Board Chair, the addition of Ambassador Kathleen Kavalec (Ret), the return of Ambassador Mark Gitenstein (Ret), the election of Obie Moore as Board Secretary and Corporate Counsel, and the continued leadership of Ambassador Jim Rosapepe (Ret) as Chair Emeritus.
The new board members have decades of diplomatic experience, policy insight, and a shared passion for fostering economic, cultural, and civic ties between the United States and Romania.
Adrian Zuckerman
Elected as Alianta’s new Chair, Ambassador Adrian Zuckerman (Ret) is a former U.S. Ambassador to Romania (2019–2021)
“It is a great honor, which I accept with humbleness, to join the Alianta board as the new chairman. Alianta has been a leader in advancing the bilateral relationship between the United States and Romania. Alianta, the brainchild of my friends Ambassadors Jim Rosapepe and Mark Gitenstein, brings together the insights of former U.S. ambassadors to Romania, civil society and the business communities of both countries. Alianta recently helped Romania transcend the most turbulent times since the 1989 revolution. It shall continue to do so. We are committed to convert Romania’s acknowledged great potential into reality. Romania is at an inflection point. The great work started by the revolutionaries in 1989 has to be brought to completion. Romania needs to fulfill its democratic potential with a vibrant economy, unreproachable judicial system and model government, so that its people, all of its people, enjoy the same benefits and high standards of living that others in Europe and the United States enjoy. I have steadfastly maintained that America is Romania’s best friend. We shall work together tirelessly to foster freedom, democracy, prosperity and a better tomorrow. That oft referred to city on a hill with its lights shining bright must also shine just as bright for the people of Romania.”
Adrian succeeds Ambassador Jim Rosapepe (Ret), who led the board as Chair from 2019 to 2024.
Kathleen Kavalec
Joining the board for the first time, Ambassador Kathleen Kavalec (Ret) brings over 40 years of diplomatic experience, most recently serving as U.S. Ambassador to Romania (2023–2025).
“It’s a great honor to join the Alianta Board, having followed the organization over many years, first as U.S. Cultural Attache in Bucharest and most recently as U.S. Ambassador to Romania. Romania’s democratic and economic transformation since the fall of Communism opened the doors to a deeper and broader relationship with the United States, one in which Alianta can play a key role in expanding and nurturing ties in business, culture, education and many other areas. I am grateful for the invitation to join the Board and look forward to contributing with fellow members to further expanding the U.S.-Romanian partnership.”
Mark Gitenstein
Alianta is equally honored to welcome back Ambassador Mark Gitenstein (Ret), who served as U.S. Ambassador to Romania from 2009 to 2012 and was one of Alianta’s founding members.
“It is a pleasure to be back at Alianta. When the late Dan Dimancescu, Jim Rosapepe & I founded Alianta, we envisioned it as an organization dedicated to preserving the transatlantic alliance between the Romanian & American people. Thus its name. Now that it enters its third generation under the leadership of Adrian Zuckerman, I am confident that it will continue to strengthen the pro-Western and pro-American orientation of that alliance. The role that Adrian in particular but also Kathy Kavalec, Jim and also other former US Ambassadors played in recent years & especially recent months supporting that direction has been historic & I know will continue through Alianta.”
Jim Rosapepe
Ambassador Jim Rosapepe is stepping into a new role as Chair Emeritus. He served as ambassador to Romania from 1998 to 2001 and was a co-founder of Alianta. Jim has guided the organization since its early days and served as Board Chair since 2019.
“I’m so pleased that Ambassadors Gitenstein, Zuckerman, and Kavalec have joined the Alianta Board and that we’ve elected Adrian as Chair and Obie Moore as Board Secretary and Corporate Counsel. All have had longtime commitments to the US/Romania alliance. With the recent presidential election in Romania, Alianta is more important than ever. I’ve been honored to chair the Board since 2019 and look forward to continued service to Alianta on the Board.”
In addition to the new appointments, Obie Moore will continue serving on the Alianta Board as Board Secretary and Corporate Counsel.
