Gary Cohn Goldman Sachs Career Timeline
Gary Cohn joined Goldman Sachs in 1990 and spent over 25 years at the firm before leaving in 2018 to serve in the White House. He rose through the investment banking division, eventually becoming president and chief operating officer of Goldman Sachs, where he oversaw the firm's global operations and client businesses as noted by Forbes. His tenure at Goldman Sachs covered major periods of growth in trading, advisory, and asset management, and he became one of the most recognized faces of the firm in public and policy circles.
Before Goldman Sachs, Cohn worked in the bond trading desk at the New York Mercantile Exchange and later at the brokerage firm Loeb Rhoades. His move to Goldman Sachs in the early 1990s placed him at the center of the firm's expansion into global markets, and he later led the Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities division. His rise to president and COO reflected his role in shaping Goldman Sachs' strategy on risk, capital, and client services across multiple business lines.
White House Service and Public Policy
In March 2017, Gary Cohn left Goldman Sachs to join the Trump administration as Director of the National Economic Council and a senior advisor to the president. He served as a key voice on tax policy, deregulation, and economic growth, and he was widely seen as a moderate influence within the administration per White House records. His background at Goldman Sachs informed his focus on corporate tax reform, infrastructure investment, and international trade policy during his time in Washington.
Cohn resigned from the White House in June 2018, citing policy disagreements, and returned to the private sector. His departure marked the end of a high-profile public service chapter that drew attention to the intersection of Wall Street experience and economic policymaking. During his tenure, he advocated for lower corporate tax rates and a simpler regulatory framework for financial institutions.
Current Roles and Industry Positions
After leaving the White House, Gary Cohn became vice chairman and president of IBM, where he focused on hybrid cloud, artificial intelligence, and enterprise technology strategy per IBM's official site. He later joined the board of directors and took on advisory roles at several financial and technology firms, continuing to apply his experience in capital markets and corporate leadership. His post-Goldman Sachs career reflects a shift toward technology, innovation, and cross-sector advisory work.
Gary Cohn also serves as a board member and advisor at companies in fintech, defense, and healthcare, leveraging his background in finance and public policy. He remains active in discussions on economic competitiveness, workforce development, and the future of financial services regulation. His ongoing involvement in industry boards and advisory roles keeps him connected to the themes he championed during his Goldman Sachs and White House years.