Charles William Larson Jr. appointed to the Council of Rietumu Banka

Charles “Chuck” William Larson Jr. has been appointed to the Council of Rietumu Banka at its shareholders meeting.

As a Council member, Larson will supervise continuing implementation of the bank’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles.

"We are pleased Chuck is bringing his experience and insights to the Council of Rietumu Banka,” said Chairman of the Board Jeļena Buraja. “We value his extensive international and professional experience and know he will guide Rietmu Banka’s growth and strategies to follow ESG principles.”

Larson is a U.S. citizen and the former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Latvia (2008-2009). In 2009, Latvian President Valdis Zatlers awarded Ambassador Larson the highest state award – the Order of the Three Stars. With his appointment to the Council, Larson emphasized his focus on increasing U.S. investment and expanding trade with Latvia.

"I am honored to join the team of Latvia’s largest locally owned bank,” Larson said in statement after his appointment. “The independence of Rietumu Banka, as well as its forward-thinking growth strategy has been fundamental to their success and achieving ambitious long-term goals. The bank has a highly competent team, and I look forward to joining them as they continue to expand and serve their customers.”

After serving as U.S. Ambassador to Latvia, Larson has continued to interact with the interests of Latvia. Most recently, Larson submitted an application in December 2023 to receive permission from the Government of Latvia to invest in the Riga Fertilizer terminal, the most modern mineral fertilizer terminal in the region.

Larson is a founding partner of LS2group, a strategic communications and public affairs firm that provides services for clients both in the U.S. and globally.

During his career, Larson was elected as both a member of the Iowa Senate and House of Representatives and served as chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa.

Larson also served his country in the U.S. Army, where he achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel and was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service in combat and the Combat Action Badge. He is the author of “Heroes Among Us,” a book that spotlights heroes from the War on Terrorism. He is a graduate of the University of Iowa, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in economics and Juris Doctorate with distinction from the University of Iowa College of Law.