William Earl Kennard is an American attorney who served as the U.S. Ambassador to the European Union (2009–13) and chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (1997–2001). He was nominated as ambassador to the EU by President Barack Obama in August 2009 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in November. Prior to this appointment, Kennard was Managing Director of the global private equity firm the Carlyle Group. He was also chairman of the FCC after being appointed by President Bill Clinton in November 1997, serving from November 3, 1997 to January 19, 2001. He is also an advisor for the transatlantic think-tank European Horizons.
