Photo by Sarah Merians.
The American Council on Germany extended its sincere thanks to everyone who helped make the 33rd Annual John J. McCloy Awards Dinner a successful event on September 28, 2026, at the Metropolitan Club in New York City. The evening celebrated the enduring transatlantic partnership and brought together leaders from business, government, sports, and civil society from both sides of the Atlantic.
More than 250 guests attended the dinner to recognize the achievements of Dr. Stefan Hartung, former Chairman of the Board of Management of Robert Bosch GmbH, and JT Batson, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary General of the U.S. Soccer Federation.
The evening was emceed by Nina Trentmann, Senior Editor for Bloomberg. The dinner opened with welcoming remarks from Dr. Steven E. Sokol, President and CEO of the American Council on Germany. “In a world where headlines often focus on what divides us, tonight is about celebrating what unites us – shared values, innovation, and a commitment to democracy. The transatlantic relationship has never been static. It has always had to adapt to changing political, economic, technological, and security realities. The relationship therefore cannot be sustained solely by governments. Business leaders, innovators, civil society, universities, and citizens all have a role. And, that’s why tonight’s honorees are especially appropriate.”
Following Dr. Sokol, Jens Jokisch, Consul General of Germany in New York, delivered remarks and shared a letter from the German Chancellor. Frances Devlin, Vice Chair of the American Council on Germany, spoke about the organization’s work and encouraged support for its mission of strengthening German-American relations.
Paul Thomas, President and CEO of Bosch in North America and President of Bosch Mobility Americas, presented the McCloy Award to Dr. Hartung, recognizing his leadership at Bosch and his contributions to innovation, industry, and transatlantic business cooperation. Following the presentation, Dr. Hartung accepted the award and reflected on leadership, technological transformation, and the importance of international collaboration.
The second McCloy Award was presented by Don Garber, Commissioner of Major League Soccer, to JT Batson in recognition of his leadership of U.S. Soccer and his efforts to advance the sport’s growth and international engagement. Mr. Batson accepted the award and discussed the role that sports can play in building connections across borders and communities.
Following the award presentations, Ms. Trentmann moderated a fireside conversation with Dr. Hartung and Mr. Batson. The discussion explored leadership, innovation, teamwork, and the value of international partnerships in addressing shared challenges and opportunities.
The American Council on Germany’s annual John J. McCloy Awards Dinner convened leaders and stakeholders from both sides of the Atlantic to celebrate the enduring partnership between Germany and the United States and to honor distinguished individuals who have strengthened transatlantic ties through their leadership and service. The awards, first presented in 1993, are named in honor of John J. McCloy, the founding Chairman of the American Council on Germany and the first civilian U.S. High Commissioner for Germany after World War II.
Proceeds from the event supported the American Council on Germany’s mission to foster dialogue and exchange through its policy programs, conferences, leadership exchanges, and nationwide network of Eric M. Warburg Chapters.