U.S. Ambassador Jared Novelly

Jared Novelly was confirmed by the United States Senate as U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand, the Independent State of Samoa, the Cook Islands, and Niue on May 18, 2026.

He has had a distinguished career in business, sports management, and philanthropy.

 

Prior to being appointed Ambassador, he served as the principal of Crest Sports and Entertainment, through which he was the owner and chairman of The Illawarra Hawks, a basketball team that competes in the National Basketball League for Australia. Additionally, Crest was an active shareholder of the East Asia Super League, a basketball league that features clubs throughout East Asia. He was the director of Apex Holding Company and Apex Oil Corporation, Inc. in St. Louis, Missouri.

 

In the past, Ambassador Novelly has served as a principal, owner, and broker of Saint Albans Realty, Crest Management and Trinidad Resorts, firms specialized in management and development of office, industrial, multi-family and golf/ski hotel/resort properties. He has also served in various positions for Southwestern Bell Wireless. Ambassador Novelly worked for SBC Wireless/Cingular and SBC Management Services, Inc. as a director of Internet Operations, associate director of Merger Transition and Global Solutions.

 

Ambassador Novelly has also served on several charitable boards in both secondary and tertiary education, religious institutions, and healthcare.

 

Ambassador Novelly is a native of St. Louis, Missouri. He holds a Masters of Property Development from the University of Technology Sydney in Ultimo, Australia and a B.A. from Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri.
 

Get in touch:

To send an invitation to Ambassador Jared Novelly, please email: ProtocolWellington@state.gov

​

​