Gary Cohn

Gary Cohn
Born	Gary David Cohn 27 8, 1960
Birthplace	Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Businessman, economic policy advisor
Title	Vice Chairman of IBM
Known for	President and COO of Goldman Sachs; Director of the National Economic Council under President Donald Trump
Education	American University (BS)
Children	3

Gary David Cohn (born August 27, 1960) is an American businessman, economic policy advisor, and philanthropist who rose from modest beginnings in Cleveland, Ohio, to become one of the most prominent figures on Wall Street and in Washington, D.C. He served as the 11th Director of the National Economic Council and chief economic advisor to President Donald Trump from January 20, 2017, to April 2, 2018, during which time he managed the administration's economic policy agenda and played a central role in the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Before his government service, Cohn spent more than 25 years at Goldman Sachs, ultimately serving as president and chief operating officer of the global investment bank. Following his departure from the White House, Cohn transitioned into advisory and corporate board roles, becoming vice chairman of IBM in January 2021, and has remained an active commentator on U.S. economic and fiscal policy.

Early Life

Gary David Cohn was born on August 27, 1960, in Cleveland, Ohio. He grew up in the Cleveland suburbs in a middle-class family. As a child, Cohn struggled academically and was diagnosed with dyslexia, a learning disability that made conventional schooling difficult for him. He has spoken publicly about attending multiple schools during his youth and about the challenges he faced in a traditional educational environment.

Despite these early academic difficulties, Cohn developed a tenacity and competitive drive that he has credited in interviews with shaping his later career. His experience with dyslexia, he has said, forced him to develop alternative strategies for learning and problem-solving — skills that would prove valuable in the fast-paced world of commodities trading and investment banking.

Cohn's path to Wall Street was unconventional. According to a widely recounted story, Cohn talked his way into a job in the commodities trading business after sharing a cab ride with a trader, leveraging the encounter into an entry-level position. This episode has been cited as emblematic of Cohn's aggressive approach to career advancement and his willingness to seize opportunities as they presented themselves.

Cohn grew up in a Jewish family and has maintained connections to Jewish communal organizations throughout his career. He later became involved in philanthropic efforts related to Jewish student life, including support for Hillel chapters at universities.

Education

Cohn attended American University in Washington, D.C., where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the Kogod School of Business. He has maintained ties to the university throughout his career. In 2009, Cohn delivered the commencement address at the Kogod School of Business, drawing on his own experience with dyslexia and his unconventional career path to offer advice to graduates.

Cohn's educational background stood in contrast to many of his peers at Goldman Sachs and in the upper echelons of Wall Street, where Ivy League credentials are common. His success despite a non-traditional academic pedigree became a notable element of his public biography and was frequently cited in media profiles as evidence of his determination and business acumen.

Career

Goldman Sachs

Cohn joined Goldman Sachs in the early 1990s, beginning his career in the firm's commodities trading division. Over the following two and a half decades, he rose through the ranks of the global investment bank, gaining a reputation as an aggressive and effective trader and manager.

Cohn's rise at Goldman Sachs was marked by his leadership in the firm's fixed income, currency, and commodities (FICC) division, which became one of the most profitable areas of the bank during his tenure. His success in generating revenue in the trading operations positioned him as a leading candidate for senior leadership roles within the firm.

In 2006, Cohn was named president and chief operating officer of Goldman Sachs, making him the second-most powerful executive at the firm after CEO Lloyd Blankfein. In this role, Cohn was responsible for overseeing the firm's day-to-day operations and played a central role in navigating the company through the 2007–2008 global financial crisis.

The question of whether Cohn would eventually succeed Blankfein as CEO became a subject of ongoing speculation on Wall Street and in the financial press. A 2011 Bloomberg Businessweek cover story explored the dynamics of the succession question, noting the complexities of the relationship between Blankfein and Cohn and the competitive culture within Goldman's leadership. A Bloomberg News analysis from the same year examined the challenges Cohn faced in potentially ascending to the top role at the firm.

During his tenure as president, Cohn also became a public representative of Goldman Sachs during periods of heightened scrutiny. In June 2010, he testified before a congressional panel investigating the role of Wall Street firms in the financial crisis. During his testimony, Cohn defended Goldman Sachs against allegations that the firm had bet against its own clients, stating that Goldman did not engage in such practices.

Cohn remained as president and COO of Goldman Sachs until December 2016, when he was nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as Director of the National Economic Council. His departure from Goldman Sachs after more than 25 years marked a significant transition from the private sector to public service.

Director of the National Economic Council

On December 9, 2016, President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to appoint Cohn as the Director of the National Economic Council (NEC), the White House's principal forum for coordinating economic policy. Cohn assumed the role on January 20, 2017, succeeding Jeff Zients, who had served as NEC Director under President Barack Obama.

As NEC Director, Cohn served as the chief economic advisor to President Trump and was responsible for coordinating the administration's domestic and international economic policy. He quickly emerged as one of the most influential figures in the early months of the Trump administration. A February 2017 report in The Wall Street Journal described Cohn as having emerged as an "economic policy powerhouse" within the administration, wielding significant influence over the direction of the president's economic agenda.

Cohn's most significant policy achievement during his tenure was his role in shepherding the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 through the legislative process. The legislation, which was signed into law by President Trump in December 2017, represented the most significant overhaul of the U.S. tax code in decades. Cohn was a leading advocate within the administration for the corporate tax rate reduction that was central to the bill.

Cohn's tenure at the NEC was also marked by internal policy disagreements within the Trump administration, particularly on the issue of trade policy. Cohn, whose background at Goldman Sachs inclined him toward free-trade positions, clashed with economic nationalists in the administration, including White House trade advisor Peter Navarro and senior strategist Steve Bannon, over proposed tariffs and trade restrictions.

The disagreement over trade policy ultimately led to Cohn's resignation. In March 2018, following President Trump's announcement of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, Cohn submitted his resignation as NEC Director. He departed the White House on April 2, 2018, and was succeeded by Larry Kudlow.

Post-Government Career

Following his departure from the White House, Cohn transitioned into advisory and corporate roles across multiple sectors. He became an advisor and venture capital investor, with particular interests in companies operating in the cybersecurity, blockchain infrastructure, and medical technology sectors.

In November 2019, CNBC reported that Cohn had joined the Board of Advisors for Hoyos Integrity, a startup company employing biometric blockchain technology for secure communications and digital payments. The partnership reflected Cohn's interest in emerging financial technology and digital security infrastructure.

On January 5, 2021, Cohn was appointed vice chairman of IBM, a role in which he has continued to serve as of 2026. In this capacity, he has engaged with issues of technology policy, corporate strategy, and the intersection of technology and the broader economy.

Cohn also became chairman of the advisory board at Pallas Advisors, a national security strategic advisory firm based in Washington, D.C., further extending his involvement in the intersection of economic and national security policy.

Continued Commentary on Economic Policy

In the years following his government service, Cohn has remained a prominent commentator on U.S. economic and fiscal policy, frequently appearing on television news programs and at public forums to discuss economic conditions and policy debates.

In September 2025, Cohn appeared on CBS News' Face the Nation in his capacity as IBM vice chairman and former NEC Director, offering his assessment of the U.S. labor market. He stated that "we've seen the job market degrade," though he suggested the deterioration might be "temporary." He noted that companies in difficult competitive environments were facing challenges related to trade policy and economic uncertainty.

Also in September 2025, Cohn offered pointed commentary on the economic effects of tariff policy, stating in an interview reported by Yahoo Finance that tariffs were raising the cost of doing business and contributing to difficulties in the job market. He argued that the tariff regime was a significant factor in the economic challenges facing American workers and businesses.

In January 2026, Cohn commented publicly on geopolitical matters during a BBC interview, in which he stated that "Greenland will stay Greenland," addressing discussions about the territory's strategic importance and linking it to broader economic and security considerations.

In February 2026, Cohn appeared again on Face the Nation, where he commented on the nomination of Kevin Warsh as chairman of the Federal Reserve. Cohn described Warsh as "very highly qualified" and predicted that he would "take the Fed back to its traditional" norms of operation. In the same period, he described the American economy as "K-shaped," with Americans at the top experiencing "massive wealth" while those at the bottom were "suffering." He characterized this divergence as a significant challenge facing economic policymakers.

Personal Life

Cohn has three children. He and his family have been involved in philanthropic activities, particularly in the area of Jewish communal life and education. In 2009, Hillel International dedicated the Cohn Jewish Student Center at Kent State University, reflecting the Cohn family's support for Jewish campus organizations. In 2010, Cohn addressed the Capital Friends of Hillel, further demonstrating his ongoing involvement with the organization.

Following his departure from the White House in 2018, Cohn was appointed as a fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School's Institute of Politics (IOP) for the spring 2019 term. In this role, he participated in study groups and public discussions on economic policy and governance. During the spring 2019 semester, Cohn co-led a study group at the IOP alongside former U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp. During the January 2019 federal government shutdown, Cohn and Heitkamp jointly criticized the shutdown during a public appearance at the Boston Globe's offices, describing the effects of the prolonged funding lapse on government workers and the broader economy.

Cohn has spoken publicly about his experience with dyslexia, using his personal history to advocate for awareness of learning disabilities and to encourage individuals who face similar challenges.

Recognition

Cohn's career trajectory — from a childhood marked by learning disabilities to the upper echelons of Wall Street and the White House — has been the subject of extensive media coverage. Profiles in Business Insider, Bloomberg Businessweek, The Wall Street Journal, and other publications have documented his rise through Goldman Sachs and his transition to government service.

His appointment as a fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School's Institute of Politics in 2019 was a recognition of his experience in economic policymaking at the highest levels of government.

Cohn's commencement address at the American University Kogod School of Business in 2009 reflected the university's recognition of his professional achievements and his status as a distinguished alumnus.

As a frequent guest on major television news programs, including CBS News' Face the Nation, Cohn has continued to be recognized as a significant voice on U.S. economic policy, trade, and monetary policy. His commentary on issues ranging from Federal Reserve nominations to the effects of tariffs on the labor market has been covered by outlets including CBS News, BBC News, Yahoo Finance, and Business Insider.