J. Adam Ereli

Joseph Adam Ereli (born 1960) is an American lobbyist, who formerly served as a diplomat and ambassador.

Early life and diplomatic career

Ereli earned a B.A. in History from Yale University in 1982 and an M.A. in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University in 1989. He worked as a journalist and human rights activist in Paris, France.

In 1989, Ereli joined the U.S. Foreign Service. During postings abroad, he served in Africa and the Middle East, including in Cairo, Egypt; Damascus, Syria; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Sanaa, Yemen; and Baghdad, Iraq. Ereli was sworn in as the 15th United States ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain on June 28, 2007, and held that post until 2011.

During postings in Washington, he served as the director of the Office of Press and Public Affairs in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, and as deputy spokesman of the Department of State (2003–2006).

Lobbying

Since 2013, Ereli has been a lobbyist, working to promote the interests of foreign governments, including Qatar, where he had previously served as a U.S. diplomat.

He began his new career by joining Mercury, a lobbying firm in Washington, DC, to serve as its vice chairman between 2013 and 2016.

Ereli has also been involved with Middle East focused think tanks in Washington, including as a board member of the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP). Until its closure in 2019, he also served as a board member of the Arabia Foundation, described as a "pro-Saudi" think tank.