Gary Cohn Goldman Sachs Career Timeline
Gary Cohn joined Goldman Sachs in 1990 and rose through the firm's fixed-income, currencies, and commodities division over nearly 26 years. He served as president and chief operating officer of Goldman Sachs from 2006 to 2016, overseeing global operations and client businesses. During his tenure, he was a member of the firm's management committee and sat on the boards of Goldman Sachs entities and affiliated financial institutions Forbes profile.
Before Goldman Sachs, Cohn worked in brokerage and sales roles at several firms and earned a bachelor's degree from American University. His early career focused on institutional sales and trading, which later positioned him for leadership roles at Goldman Sachs in global markets and investment banking divisions.
Gary Cohn White House Role and Public Service
Gary Cohn left Goldman Sachs in 2016 to serve as Director of the National Economic Council and Assistant to the President under Donald Trump. In this role, he chaired the National Economic Council and advised the president on domestic and international economic policy, including tax reform, deregulation, and trade policy.
During his White House tenure, Cohn publicly supported corporate tax cuts and infrastructure spending while navigating trade tensions and tariff disputes. He resigned from the administration in April 2018 and returned to the private sector, later joining the board of directors at several major companies and investment firms.
Gary Cohn Current Roles and Business Positions
After leaving the White House, Gary Cohn became Vice Chairman at IBM and later served as Vice Chairman at Goldman Sachs before stepping back from day-to-day roles. He has served on the boards of companies in financial services, technology, and healthcare, and he has been involved with venture capital and growth equity funds focused on fintech and enterprise software.
Gary Cohn also serves on advisory boards and councils tied to economic policy, workforce development, and national security. He has spoken publicly about the future of work, artificial intelligence, and U.S. competitiveness in global markets, often referencing his experience at Goldman Sachs and in government SEC filings.