Harvey Golub

Harvey Golub
Born	16 4, 1939
Birthplace	New York City, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Businessman, corporate executive
Title	Former Chairman and CEO, American Express; Interim Non-Executive Chairman, Dynasty Financial Partners
Known for	Chairman and CEO of American Express
Education	New York University (MBA) Cornell University
Spouse(s)	Roberta Golub
Children	4

Harvey Golub (born April 16, 1939) is an American businessman who served as chairman and chief executive officer of American Express, one of the world's largest financial services corporations. Born and raised in New York City, Golub rose through the ranks of corporate America from a career at McKinsey & Company to the top leadership of American Express, where he guided the company through a significant period of strategic transformation during the 1990s. After retiring from American Express in 2001, he continued to hold leadership positions across the financial services industry, including serving as non-executive chairman of American International Group (AIG) during a critical period following the 2008 financial crisis and as chairman of the investment banking firm Miller Buckfire. Golub has also been active in public policy and philanthropy, serving on the boards of institutions including the American Enterprise Institute, the Manhattan Institute, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. In 2020, he was named interim non-executive chairman of the board of Dynasty Financial Partners, a role in which he has continued to serve.

Early Life

Harvey Golub was born on April 16, 1939, in New York City, New York. He grew up in the New York metropolitan area during a period defined by the aftermath of the Great Depression and World War II. Details of his family background and childhood remain largely private, though Golub has on occasion spoken publicly about his upbringing in the context of discussions about economic opportunity and personal responsibility in America.

Education

Golub attended Cornell University and later earned a Master of Business Administration degree from New York University. These academic credentials provided the foundation for a career that would span management consulting, corporate leadership, and financial services.

Career

McKinsey & Company

Before joining American Express, Golub built a career at McKinsey & Company, one of the world's preeminent management consulting firms. His work at McKinsey provided extensive experience in corporate strategy and organizational management, and it was during this period that he developed the strategic acumen that would later define his tenure at American Express. Golub's expertise in corporate restructuring and strategic planning attracted the attention of American Express leadership, ultimately leading to his recruitment by the company.

American Express

Harvey Golub's association with American Express represents the central chapter of his career. He joined the company and rose to become its chief executive officer, eventually also serving as chairman of the board. His leadership of American Express spanned much of the 1990s, a transformative decade for the company.

When Golub assumed the top leadership role, American Express was in the midst of a strategic reassessment. The company had previously pursued a broad financial services conglomerate model under the leadership of James D. Robinson III, acquiring firms such as Shearson Lehman Brothers and IDS Financial Services. Golub took a different approach, focusing the company on its core strengths in charge and credit cards, travel services, and financial advisory services.

In January 1993, Golub was named chief executive officer of American Express. The Los Angeles Times reported on the leadership transition, which signaled a new strategic direction for the company. Under his leadership, American Express divested non-core businesses and refocused on its flagship card products and travel-related services. This strategy of strategic focus and operational discipline helped restore the company's profitability and competitive position during a period of intense competition in the financial services industry.

Golub served as both chairman and CEO of American Express until his retirement in 2001. During his tenure, the company strengthened its brand, expanded its card membership base, and improved its financial performance. His management philosophy emphasized disciplined cost control, strategic clarity, and brand value — principles that would continue to shape American Express after his departure.

According to New York Magazine, Golub retired from American Express at the age of 61, having built the company into one of the most recognized financial brands in the world. After leaving American Express, Golub joined several corporate boards, including that of Warnaco and the technology company AirClic.

AIG Chairmanship

In 2009, Golub was appointed non-executive chairman of American International Group (AIG), succeeding Edward M. Liddy. AIG had been at the center of the 2008 financial crisis, requiring a massive government bailout that became one of the most controversial interventions in American financial history. Golub was brought in to provide experienced, independent leadership as the company sought to stabilize its operations, repay government funds, and restore credibility with investors, regulators, and the public.

Golub served as non-executive chairman of AIG from 2009 to 2010, a period during which the company made significant progress in unwinding troubled assets and beginning to repay the U.S. government's investment. He was succeeded as chairman by Steve Miller. Golub's brief but important tenure at AIG was viewed as part of the broader effort to install credible corporate governance at the insurer during its recovery.

Miller Buckfire

In October 2011, Golub was named chairman of Miller Buckfire, a boutique investment bank specializing in restructuring advisory services. The New York Times DealBook column reported on the appointment, noting that Golub's extensive experience in corporate leadership and financial services made him a natural fit for the role. At Miller Buckfire, Golub provided strategic oversight and guidance to the firm's operations in restructuring and mergers and acquisitions advisory work.

Boutique Energy Company

In 2016, Golub was appointed to chair a boutique energy company, expanding his portfolio of leadership roles beyond traditional financial services. The Financial Times reported on the appointment, which reflected Golub's willingness to apply his corporate governance expertise to new sectors.

Dynasty Financial Partners

In April 2020, Golub was named interim non-executive chairman of the board of Dynasty Financial Partners, a network of independent wealth management firms. The appointment was reported by multiple financial industry publications. Golub had been an early investor in Dynasty and had served on its board prior to assuming the chairmanship, succeeding Todd Thomson, who remained on the board of directors.

In February 2026, Dynasty Financial Partners announced the successful closure of a minority capital raise supported by its community of stakeholders, with Golub continuing to serve in his leadership capacity.

Investment Activities

Beyond his corporate board roles, Golub has maintained an active profile as an investor. In 2019, he invested in TradAir Ltd., an Israel-linked banking software startup focused on electronic trading and financial technology. The CTech publication, affiliated with the Israeli business newspaper Calcalist, reported that Golub's backing underscored the company's potential in the financial technology sector.

Public Policy and Commentary

Golub has been an outspoken commentator on matters of economic policy and taxation. In August 2011, he published an opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal responding to Warren Buffett's public call for higher taxes on the wealthy and to the Obama administration's approach to tax policy. In the article, Golub argued against higher taxes on high-income earners, contending that the federal government should focus on reducing spending rather than raising revenue. He wrote that he "deeply resent[ed]" the suggestion that wealthy Americans were not paying their fair share, and proposed that taxpayers should have the right to direct how their tax dollars were spent. The article generated significant public discussion and was widely cited in debates over fiscal policy during the period.

Golub has also spoken on economic issues in broadcast media. In March 2023, he appeared on Fox Business Network to discuss rising inflation and its impact on the American middle class, arguing that inflation represented a "huge problem" for ordinary Americans and commenting on the effects of Federal Reserve interest rate increases on economic growth.

Board Memberships and Affiliations

Throughout his career, Golub has served on the boards of numerous corporate and nonprofit organizations. His affiliations have included:

• American Enterprise Institute (AEI) — Golub served as a member of AEI's board of trustees, the Washington, D.C.-based public policy think tank focused on government, economics, and social welfare.
• Manhattan Institute for Policy Research — He served as a trustee of the Manhattan Institute, a New York-based policy research organization.
• Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts — Golub served as a director and member of the investment committee of Lincoln Center, one of the leading performing arts centers in the United States.
• NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital — He is a director emeritus of the hospital, one of the largest and most comprehensive academic medical centers in the nation.
• Jupiter Medical Center — As of 2020, Golub served on the board of trustees of Jupiter Medical Center in Jupiter, Florida.
• Maltz Jupiter Theatre — He served as chairman of the Maltz Jupiter Theatre endowment board.

Personal Life

Harvey Golub is married to Roberta Golub. The couple have four children. Golub has maintained a relatively private personal life compared to some of his contemporaries in corporate America, though he has been publicly active in philanthropy and civic affairs, particularly in the areas of healthcare, the arts, and public policy.

In his 2011 Wall Street Journal essay, Golub provided some insight into his personal perspective, describing himself as someone who had achieved financial success through hard work and who objected to what he viewed as government overreach in taxation. The essay offered a rare public glimpse into his views on personal responsibility, wealth, and civic obligation.

Legacy

Harvey Golub's legacy is most closely associated with his leadership of American Express during the 1990s, a period during which he refocused the company on its core card and travel services businesses and helped restore its competitive standing. His strategy of divesting non-core assets and emphasizing brand strength became a model studied in corporate management circles.

His subsequent role as chairman of AIG during the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis placed him at the center of one of the most consequential episodes in modern American finance. While his tenure at AIG was brief, it came at a moment when experienced, credible leadership was essential to the company's recovery and the broader effort to stabilize the financial system.

Beyond his corporate roles, Golub's involvement with organizations such as the American Enterprise Institute and the Manhattan Institute reflects his engagement with public policy debates, particularly those concerning taxation, government spending, and economic growth. His 2011 Wall Street Journal essay remains one of the more prominent public statements by a corporate leader on the subject of tax policy during the Obama era.

Golub's continued activity in the financial services sector, including his leadership of Dynasty Financial Partners and his investments in financial technology, demonstrates an ongoing engagement with the industry well into his eighth decade.