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Who is Woody Johnson and what will the New York Jets owner do as US ambassador to UK?

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson has been nominated US ambassador to UK - REUTERS
New York Jets owner Woody Johnson has been nominated US ambassador to UK - REUTERS

Donald Trump is set to have a new man in London.

The president has nominated Woody Johnson, the billionaire owner of the New York Jets American football team, as US ambassador to Britain.

Like Mr Trump, the 70-year-old hails from New Yorker and comes from a wealthy family. As the owner of the NFL team, he has garnered a reputation for working behind the scenes - a crucial trait for his new job. 

What's his experience?

In the announcement, the White House cited Mr Johnson’s asset management firm The Johnson Company and his 16 years of being the chairman and CEO of the Jets.

The billionaire, whose great grandfather founded medical supplies manufacturer Johnson & Johnson, has also served on the president's Export Council and the President's Commission on the White House Fellows. 

The White House also noted he founded Lupus Research Alliance, the largest non-proft organisation dedicated to the prevention, treatment and cure of lupus. 

Mr Johnson already knows Sir Kim Darroch, the British ambassador to Washington. When it first emerged in January that the Jets owner was tipped for the post, Sir Kim congratulated him by saying he would succeed in London just as the Jets had done against the Miami Dolphins at Wembley in 2015. 

However, the businessman's time as head of the Jets has not seen much glory. They've made the playoffs six times in 17 years but the team has failed to win a National Football League championship since 1969. 

Mr Johnson has no government experience, but that is not uncommon as such diplomatic posts often go to political donors or fundraisers. 

Louis Susman generated a huge amount of cash for the Democratic Party and took up the London post shortly after Barack Obama came into power in 2009. Four years later, Matthew Barzun's contribution to the Democratic Party was rewarded with the role. 

Nor will he be the first NFL chief to get a diplomatic posting. Dan Rooney, chairman of the Pittsburgh Steelers, served as President Barack Obama’s ambassador to Ireland from 2009 to 2012.

What will his job be?

Mr Johnson's official title will be Ambassador of the United States to the Court of St James's. It is seen as a high-profile and somewhat glamorous position, often serving as a career capstone for political allies.

As America's "man in London", Mr Johnson will be the main channel of communication between the two countries.

He will convey American policies to the UK and report back to Washington about developments in Whitehall.

Among the challenges facing Mr Johnson will be how to stabilise the US-UK relationship in the post-Brexit world and how to win over the British public who have shown open hostility toward the US president.

A planned state visit to the UK by Mr Trump still hasn't been formally scheduled, and no reference to it was made by the Queen during her speech to parliament this week. There are suggestions it has been shelved for at least two years. 

Liam Fox speaks at a conference in Washington where he and Wilbur Ross discussed plans to set up a trade deal between the UK and US - Credit: Reuters
Liam Fox speaks at a conference in Washington where he and Wilbur Ross discussed plans to set up a trade deal between the UK and US Credit: Reuters

With negotiations on Britain's departure from the European Union under way, the shape of the US-UK. trade relationship will be among Mr Johnson's top priorities. 

Trade talks with the US will kick off in July as British officials start to scope out plans for a deal, with the aim of setting up a free trade agreement as soon as possible after Brexit.

What is his relationship with Trump?

Mr Johnson is a political and social friend of the president. He was a top donor to Mr Trump during the presidential campaign, and was named in November as finance chair of his inaugural committee.

A Republican through and through, Mr Johnson helped raise money for George W Bush, John McCain and Mitt Romney when they were the party's nominees.

He served as finance chairman for Jeb Bush earlier in the 2016 campaign but was one of the first establishment Republicans to jump on the Trump bandwagon.

Woody Johnson was finance chair of Donald Trump's inaugural committee - Credit: AFP
Woody Johnson was finance chair of Donald Trump's inaugural committee Credit: AFP

Mr Johnson attended Mr Trump’s 2005 wedding to his third and current wife, Melania, giving the couple a Loro Piana cashmere blanket. 

“He is a loyal Republican,” Donald Marron, chairman of Lightyear Capital and New York Republican fixture, told the Financial Times “When I heard about his appointment, I thought it was really, really logical. He has worked for the party in a number of roles for a long time. He knows a lot of people. He’s familiar with London. He’s principled.”

How will his posting affect the Jets?

It is not yet clear how the appointment will affect his ownership of the Jets, but he is expected to give up day-to-day control of the team.

When Mr Rooney was handed his overseas posting, the Steelers’ chairman surrendered his positions on National Football League committees and ceded the day-to-day operations of the club to his son. 

Woody Johnson is expected to step back from the day-to-day running of the New York Jets - Credit: USA Today
Woody Johnson is expected to step back from the day-to-day running of the New York Jets Credit: USA Today

Mr Johnson currently serves on three NFL. committees - for media, finance and business ventures - and will likely have to stand down from all of them.

As for the club, Mr Johnson’s younger brother, Christopher Wold Johnson, is said to be in line to assume a more important role with the team, according to the New York Times

Where will he live?

Mr Johnson's residence in London will be Winfield House a mansion in Regent's Park that boasts 12 acres of grounds - second only to Buckingham Palace in terms of largest private gardens in the capital.

It has been the US ambassador's official residence since 1955 and has been visited by Queen Elizabeth II, several American presidents and many distinguished guests.

US President Barack Obama attends a meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao (6th Centre R) at Winfield House in 2009 - Credit: AFP
US President Barack Obama attends a meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao (6th Centre R) at Winfield House in 2009 Credit: AFP

Barack Obama attended a banquet at the residence as part of his state visit in 2011, with the Queen among the guests.  

The Neo-Georgian house, which is owned by the US State Department, is listed on its Register of Culturally Significant Property, denoting properties with particular cultural or historical significance.

The property has undergone extensive alterations inside over the years, most notably by interior deisgner and former silent film star William Haines in 1969.