WASHINGTON—Hudson Institute announced that Jessie J. Knight. Jr., a national leader in the business and philanthropic communities, has joined its Board of Trustees.
“We are excited to welcome Jessie to our board,” Sarah May Stern, chairman of Hudson’s Board of Trustees, said. “His distinguished record of accomplishments in industry, domestic and foreign policy organizations, businesses in the orbit of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and his philanthropic leadership bring a unique perspective to Hudson as we work to advance policies that make America secure, free, and prosperous.”
Knight is the managing director of Knight Angels, a private equity fund devoted to anonymous philanthropy and financial support of grassroots leaders that improve their local communities with innovative solutions. Before retiring in 2015, Knight served as Sempra Energy’s executive vice president of external affairs, chief sustainability officer, and chairman of two subsidiaries, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and Southern California Gas Company.
Previously, he was chief executive officer at SDG&E and has served as president and CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, and executive vice president of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. He has served in high public office as a California gubernatorial appointee as commissioner of the California Public Utilities Commission. He has held senior leadership positions in many large corporations, including Dole Foods Company, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the San Francisco Examiner newspapers. During the Trump Administration, he served as a co-chair on a task force led by Vice President Mike Pence and Senator Tim Scott to create jobs in distressed U.S. cities with energy and infrastructure project investments under the national opportunity zone legislation approved by all 50 states in the union.
“We are fortunate to have Jessie as a part of Hudson,” John P. Walters, president and CEO of Hudson Institute, said. “He will be a great partner in our efforts to tackle the most pressing policy questions of our time.”
In addition to his work at Knight Angels, Knight currently serves on the boards of Alaska Airlines, the Timken Museum, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. As a leader in the U.S. Chamber, he serves on its executive committee and over the past 15 years has served on the U.S. Chamber’s National Security Task Force Committee, the Energy Policy Council, and the U.S./Mexico CEO Council. Jessie and his wife Joye Blount reside in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Press queries may be referred directly to Julia Sibley at [email protected] or to [email protected].