Gary Cohn

Gary Cohn studied economics at American University and joined Goldman Sachs in 1990 as a metal trader, rising through the fixed income, currencies, and commodities divisions to become President and Co-Chief Operating Officer. He was widely expected to succeed Lloyd Blankfein as Goldman's CEO. In January 2017 President Trump appointed him Director of the National Economic Council, the key White House office for economic policy coordination. In that role Cohn was the primary architect of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 — the most comprehensive US tax reform in 30 years, which reduced the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. He resigned in March 2018 after opposing proposed steel and aluminum tariffs. After leaving the White House, Cohn joined IBM as Vice Chairman and became a significant investor in financial technology and artificial intelligence companies. He co-founded Pallas Capital, a special purpose acquisition company focused on financial services and technology. Cohn is known for his direct, results-oriented management style and his expertise in financial markets, derivatives, and macroeconomic policy.