Keith Krach is an entrepreneur, former U.S. diplomat, and civic leader whose career has focused on building companies, institutions, and alliances at the intersection of technology, trust, and freedom.

He currently serves as CEO of Freedom 250, Chairman and Co-Founder of the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue, and Chairman of the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council. He previously served as U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, Chairman and CEO of DocuSign, and Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Ariba. Earlier in his career, he became the youngest-ever vice president at General Motors.

Krach’s work spans entrepreneurship, public service, technology diplomacy, higher education, philanthropy, and civic leadership. Across those roles, his focus has remained consistent: building trusted institutions, strengthening freedom, and helping the next generation of leaders meet the defining challenges of their time.

Official Bio & Resources

Official biography, current roles, public-service highlights, selected sources, and media contact information.  View Resources

Keith Krach’s work centers on a core principle: trust is the foundation for strong institutions, secure technology, and free societies.

Today, that mission continues through Freedom 250 and the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue. Freedom 250 is focused on civic participation, service, innovation, entrepreneurship, and America’s next 250 years. The Krach Institute advances technology diplomacy and trusted technology networks among governments, companies, and allies.

Krach’s current work brings together three themes that have shaped his career: entrepreneurial leadership, public service, and the belief that technology must advance freedom.

In 2019, Krach was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment. In that role, he led economic-security initiatives focused on trusted technology, supply-chain resilience, strategic technology sectors, and U.S. leadership in the global technology competition.

As Under Secretary, Krach helped launch the Clean Network, a State Department initiative focused on trusted technology and secure networks. He also advanced U.S.-Taiwan economic and technology cooperation, supported efforts to strengthen semiconductor supply chains, and promoted trusted technology partnerships among democratic nations.

Following his government service, Krach co-founded the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue to advance the field of technology diplomacy. The Institute helps leaders understand the national-security, economic, and values-based dimensions of emerging technologies including AI, semiconductors, quantum, 5G, biotech, and critical infrastructure.

Krach serves as CEO of Freedom 250, a national effort connected to the United States’ 250th anniversary.

Freedom 250 focuses on civic participation, service, innovation, entrepreneurship, and America’s next 250 years. Its mission is to help Americans honor the nation’s history while inspiring the next generation of builders, innovators, entrepreneurs, students, veterans, educators, public servants, and community leaders.

Krach views the 250th anniversary as more than a commemoration. It is an opportunity to strengthen civic pride, renew service, and invite Americans to help shape the country’s next chapter.

Krach is Chairman and Co-Founder of the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue.

The Institute was created to advance the discipline of technology diplomacy: the integration of technology expertise, business leadership, and foreign policy strategy to ensure that trusted technology strengthens freedom, security, and prosperity.

The Institute’s work includes education, policy engagement, trusted technology partnerships, and global convenings. Through the Tech Diplomacy Academy, the Institute provides courses and certificates designed to help leaders understand critical and emerging technologies and make informed decisions in a rapidly changing world.

The Institute’s mission reflects a central idea from Krach’s public-service work: the technologies that shape the future should be developed, deployed, and governed by trusted partners committed to democratic values.

Krach co-founded Ariba in 1996 and served as Chairman and CEO. Ariba became a pioneering business-to-business e-commerce company and helped define a new category of enterprise technology.

Ariba’s platform helped companies transform procurement, commerce, and supply-chain operations through digital networks. The company went public in 1999 and became one of the most recognized enterprise technology companies of the internet era.

Krach’s experience building Ariba shaped his approach to large-scale networks, category creation, and trusted digital infrastructure.

Earlier in his Silicon Valley career, Krach was a founding team member and COO of Rasna Corporation, a mechanical design automation software company later sold to PTC.

He also served as an entrepreneur-in-residence at Benchmark Capital and held leadership and advisory roles across technology companies and boards. His career in Silicon Valley focused on building teams, scaling categories, and applying technology to transform how organizations work.

Krach began his career at General Motors, where he became the company’s youngest-ever vice president at age 26.

At GM, he helped launch GMF Robotics, a joint venture between General Motors and FANUC. The experience shaped his early understanding of industrial technology, U.S.-Japan technology cooperation, robotics, manufacturing, and leadership at scale.

Krach has often credited his early years in his father’s machine shop and his time at GM with shaping his practical approach to leadership, technology, and problem solving.

Krach earned a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University and later served as Chairman of the Purdue Board of Trustees.

As Board Chair, he was involved in major university leadership and strategic initiatives, including the recruitment of Mitch Daniels as Purdue’s 12th president. Purdue later named the Krach Leadership Center in recognition of his support for student leadership and development.

Krach also received an honorary doctorate in engineering from Purdue. His long relationship with the university continued through the creation of the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue.

Krach earned an MBA from Harvard Business School after receiving a fellowship from General Motors.

His career has since connected business leadership, entrepreneurship, technology, and public service. He has been recognized by the Harvard Business School Association of Northern California as its 2019 Business Leader of the Year.

Krach’s philanthropic and civic work has focused on leadership development, opportunity, education, and technology for good.

At DocuSign, he helped establish the DocuSign IMPACT Foundation, supporting nonprofits through technology and operational resources. He has also supported leadership scholarships at Purdue and initiatives focused on mentorship, student development, and civic leadership.

He founded the Global Mentor Network, a platform designed to share leadership lessons and practical insights from experienced leaders with emerging leaders and students.

Krach was raised in Rocky River, Ohio. At age 12, he began working in his father’s machine shop, where he learned early lessons about manufacturing, responsibility, teamwork, and the dignity of work.

He later attended Purdue University, earning a degree in Industrial Engineering, and then Harvard Business School. Those experiences shaped a career that would span manufacturing, software, entrepreneurship, diplomacy, higher education, and civic service.