William E. Kennard

Bill Kennard is a Co-Founder of Astra and serves on the firm’s Investment Committee. Mr. Kennard is the former U.S. Ambassador to the European Union, serving from 2009 to 2013. Prior to that, Mr. Kennard was Managing Director and Global Partner in the Global Telecommunications and Media group at The Carlyle Group. Prior to Carlyle, Mr. Kennard was at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, serving as its General Counsel from 1993 to 1997 and the Chairman from 1997 to 2001. He has received awards from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and received honorary degrees from Howard University, Gallaudet University, and Long Island University. Mr. Kennard is currently on the board of directors of AT&T, Ford Motor Company, Yale University, Metropolitan Life Insurance, and Duke Energy. Mr. Kennard graduated from Stanford University and received his JD from Yale Law School.