General Secretary, John Hewko
From 2004 to 2009, Hewko was vice president for operations and
compact development for the Millennium Challenge Corporation
(MCC), a U.S. government agency established in 2004 to deliver foreign
assistance to the world’s poorest countries. At MCC, he was
the principal United States negotiator for foreign assistance agreements
to 26 countries in Africa, Asia, South America, the Middle
East, and the former Soviet Union. During his tenure, he completed
the negotiation of assistance agreements totaling $6.3 billion
to 18 countries for infrastructure, agriculture, water and sanitation,
health, and education projects.
Prior to joining MCC, Hewko was an international partner with the
law firm Baker & McKenzie, specializing in international corporate
transactions in emerging markets. He helped establish the firm’s
Moscow office and was the managing partner of its offices in Kyiv
and Prague.
Hewko holds a law degree from Harvard University, a master’s in
modern history from Oxford University (where he studied as a Marshall
Scholar), and a bachelor’s in government and Soviet studies
from Hamilton College in New York.
As general secretary, Hewko leads a diverse staff of 800 at Rotary
International’s Headquarters in Evanston, Illinois, USA, and seven
international offices. Hewko is a Paul Harris Fellow. He and his wife,
Margarita, live in Evanston.