Former Ambassador Hans H. Hertell is currently the chairman of The Hertell Group LLC, a merchant banking and international strategic consulting firm. He has over 30 years of experience in government, public affairs, business and banking. Ambassador Hertell was sworn in as the United States Ambassador to the Dominican Republic on 8 November, 2001, where he served until 1 May, 2007. In the banking sector, Ambassador Hertell was the chief executive officer and vice chairman of Ponce Bank (NYSE), one of the largest publicly traded corporations in the Caribbean, with US$1.8 billion in assets. Ambassador Hertell was also one of the founding partners of one of the largest full service law firms in Puerto Rico, Goldman, Antonetti, Ferraiuoli, Axtmayer and Hertell.