Harvey Golub

Harvey Golub
Born	16 4, 1939
Birthplace	New York City, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Businessman, corporate executive
Known for	Former CEO and Chairman 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 chief executive officer and chairman of American Express, one of the largest financial services corporations in the world. Born and raised in New York City, Golub rose through the ranks of corporate America after a career in management consulting, eventually steering American Express through a period of significant transformation during the 1990s. Following his retirement from American Express in 2001 at the age of 61, Golub embarked on an extensive second career as a corporate board member, investor, and advisor across multiple industries, including financial services, energy, and technology. He served as non-executive chairman of American International Group (AIG) from 2009 to 2010 during the insurer's restructuring following the global financial crisis, and has held board and advisory roles at numerous organizations including Miller Buckfire, Dynasty Financial Partners, the American Enterprise Institute, and the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. Throughout his post-retirement career, Golub has remained an outspoken commentator on fiscal policy, taxation, and economic matters, contributing op-eds to major publications and appearing on financial news programs.

Early Life

Harvey Golub was born on April 16, 1939, in New York City, New York. He grew up in New York and would go on to pursue higher education in the city and in Ithaca, New York. Details about Golub's parents, siblings, and childhood circumstances remain largely undocumented in publicly available sources. What is known is that Golub's upbringing in New York City positioned him at the center of the American business and financial world from an early age, an environment that would shape his career trajectory in the decades to come.

Education

Golub attended Cornell University and New York University, where he earned a Master of Business Administration degree. These institutions provided Golub with a rigorous academic foundation in business, finance, and management that would underpin his subsequent career in consulting and corporate leadership. Cornell University, a member of the Ivy League, and NYU's graduate business program were both recognized as among the leading academic institutions in the United States for aspiring business professionals during the period Golub attended.

Career

Management Consulting

Before joining American Express, Golub built a career in management consulting. He worked at McKinsey & Company, one of the most prominent global management consulting firms, where he developed expertise in corporate strategy and organizational management. His consulting background provided him with broad exposure to corporate challenges across industries and gave him the analytical framework he would later apply in leading American Express through a period of strategic refocusing.

American Express

Harvey Golub's tenure at American Express represents the most prominent chapter of his career. He rose through the leadership ranks of the company to become its chief executive officer and later chairman, guiding the financial services firm through a significant period of transformation during the 1990s.

In January 1993, Golub was named chief executive officer of American Express. At the time of his appointment, the company was undergoing a strategic shift, moving away from its diversified financial conglomerate model and refocusing on its core businesses of charge and credit cards, travel services, and financial advisory. Under Golub's leadership, American Express pursued a strategy of streamlining its operations, divesting non-core businesses, and strengthening its brand identity around premium financial products and services.

During his years leading American Express, Golub oversaw several key strategic initiatives. The company expanded its card product offerings, grew its merchant network, and invested in technology and customer service improvements. Golub was credited with refocusing the company's identity and improving its financial performance during a competitive period in the credit card and financial services industry. His management style, informed by his consulting background, emphasized disciplined strategic thinking, cost management, and brand value.

Golub retired from American Express in 2001 at the age of 61, having served as both CEO and chairman of the company. His departure marked the end of an era at American Express, during which the company had been transformed from a sprawling conglomerate into a more focused financial services brand. After retiring, Golub joined the boards of several companies, beginning a second career as a corporate director and advisor.

Post-Retirement Board Service and Advisory Roles

Following his retirement from American Express, Golub became one of the most active former CEOs in American corporate governance, serving on multiple boards and advisory committees across a range of industries.

American International Group (AIG)

In 2009, amid the global financial crisis, Golub was appointed non-executive chairman of American International Group (AIG). The insurer had received a massive government bailout and was undergoing an intensive restructuring process. Golub succeeded Edward M. Liddy in the chairman's role and served in that capacity from 2009 to 2010, when he was succeeded by Steve Miller. His appointment was seen as an effort to bring experienced corporate leadership to the troubled insurer during a critical period in its history.

Miller Buckfire

In October 2011, investment banking firm Miller Buckfire, which specialized in restructuring advisory services, announced plans to name Golub as its chairman. In this role, Golub brought his extensive experience in corporate strategy and financial services to bear on advising companies navigating financial distress and complex restructuring situations.

Dynasty Financial Partners

Golub became involved with Dynasty Financial Partners, a network of independent wealth management firms, as an early investor and board member. In April 2020, he was named interim non-executive chairman of Dynasty's board of directors, replacing Todd Thomson, who remained on the board. In February 2025, it was reported that Golub continued to serve in this interim chairman role. In February 2026, Dynasty Financial Partners announced the successful closure of a minority capital raise supported by its community of stakeholders, with Golub continuing in his leadership role on the board.

Energy Sector

In 2016, Golub was appointed to chair a boutique energy company, extending his board service into the energy sector. This appointment reflected the breadth of Golub's corporate governance experience across multiple industries.

Technology Investments

Golub has also been active as an investor in technology ventures. In July 2019, it was reported that Golub had backed TradAir Ltd., an Israel-linked banking software startup focused on electronic trading technology for banks and financial institutions. Following his retirement from American Express, Golub had also joined the boards of Warnaco and technology company AirClic, among other ventures.

Think Tank and Nonprofit Affiliations

Golub has maintained long-standing associations with several prominent policy organizations and think tanks. He has served as a member of the board of trustees of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a center-right public policy think tank based in Washington, D.C. He has also been affiliated with the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, a New York City–based think tank focused on economic growth, education, and urban policy, where he served as a trustee.

In addition to his policy-oriented affiliations, Golub has been involved with several nonprofit and cultural institutions. He served as a director emeritus of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, where he was also a member of its investment committee. As of 2020, he served on Jupiter Medical Center's board of trustees and was chairman of the Maltz Jupiter Theatre endowment board.

Public Commentary on Economic Policy

Golub has been an outspoken commentator on matters of economic and fiscal policy in the United States. In August 2011, he published an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal titled "My Response to Buffett and Obama," in which he responded to calls by investor Warren Buffett and President Barack Obama for higher taxes on the wealthy. In the piece, Golub expressed strong disagreement with the proposition that affluent Americans were not paying sufficient taxes, writing that he "deeply resent[ed]" the suggestion that he did not need all of the money he had earned. The op-ed attracted significant attention and contributed to the broader national debate over tax policy and income inequality during the Obama administration.

In March 2023, Golub appeared on Fox Business Network to discuss rising inflation and its effects on the American economy. He characterized growing inflation as a "huge problem" that was disproportionately affecting America's middle class, and discussed the implications of Federal Reserve interest rate increases on GDP growth.

Personal Life

Harvey Golub is married to Roberta Golub. The couple has four children. Golub has maintained a relatively private personal life compared to his public corporate and policy activities. His involvement with Jupiter Medical Center's board of trustees and the Maltz Jupiter Theatre endowment board suggests a connection to the Jupiter, Florida area, a community in Palm Beach County.

Golub's affiliations with cultural institutions, including his role as a director emeritus of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, reflect longstanding engagement with New York City's cultural and civic life.

Legacy

Harvey Golub's career is defined primarily by his leadership of American Express during a formative period in the company's modern history. His tenure as CEO and chairman during the 1990s saw the company transition from a sprawling financial conglomerate to a more focused enterprise centered on its core charge card, credit card, and travel services businesses. This strategic refocusing helped position American Express for long-term competitiveness in the evolving financial services landscape.

Beyond American Express, Golub's willingness to take on the chairmanship of AIG during one of the most turbulent periods in American financial history demonstrated a readiness to engage with complex corporate governance challenges at the highest level. His extensive board service across financial services, energy, technology, and restructuring advisory firms reflects a breadth of corporate leadership experience that spans several decades and multiple industries.

Golub's post-retirement career also illustrates the broader phenomenon of former Fortune 500 CEOs transitioning into roles as corporate directors, investors, and public policy commentators. His involvement with the American Enterprise Institute and the Manhattan Institute, combined with his public writings and media appearances on fiscal and economic policy, have given him a voice in national policy debates extending well beyond the corporate boardroom.

His ongoing involvement with Dynasty Financial Partners, including his role as interim non-executive chairman of the board, demonstrates that Golub has continued to play an active role in shaping the direction of financial services companies well into his eighties.