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Chairman & CEO, Goldman Sachs
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David Michael Solomon (born January 17, 1962) is an American investment banker and corporate executive who has served as the chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. since 2018. A long-tenured veteran of the firm, Solomon is noted for his role in steering Goldman Sachs through significant strategic shifts, including a broader expansion into consumer banking and asset management, as well as his unconventional personal pursuit of electronic dance music production and performance under the moniker "D-Sol." Born in Hartsdale, New York, Solomon was raised in Scarsdale, where he attended Edgemont Junior-Senior High School. His early work experience included jobs at a local Baskin-Robbins and as a camp counselor. He attended Hamilton College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and government. During his college years, he was active in campus life, including participating in the rugby team and serving as the chairman of his fraternity chapter. Solomon’s career in financial services began following his graduation from Hamilton College. After an initial rejection from the Goldman Sachs analyst program, he secured a position at Irving Trust Company, which he later characterized as an educational foundation for his banking career. He subsequently moved to Drexel Burnham Lambert in 1986, where he worked in the commercial paper and high-yield bond markets. Following the firm's collapse in 1990, Solomon transitioned to Bear Stearns, where he continued to specialize in leveraged finance and rose to the firm's management committee. In 1999, Solomon joined Goldman Sachs as a partner. His tenure at the firm was marked by a rapid ascent through key leadership roles. He initially served as the global head of the firm's financing group. From 2006 to 2016, he served as co-head of the investment banking division, a period during which he was credited with helping the firm navigate complex market environments and enhancing client relationships. In January 2017, Solomon was named president and co-chief operating officer, and he assumed the role of sole chief operating officer in 2018. He officially succeeded Lloyd Blankfein as CEO on October 1, 2018, and was named chairman of the board in January 2019. As CEO, Solomon has pursued strategies aimed at diversifying the firm's revenue streams, including significant initiatives in digital consumer banking and the expansion of the asset and wealth management businesses. His leadership has coincided with efforts to modernize the firm's internal culture and integrate new technologies to better serve a changing global client base. Outside of his professional career, Solomon gained public attention for his work as a DJ under the stage name "D-Sol." He began producing and performing electronic dance music in 2015, appearing at various international music festivals and nightclubs. While the hobby initially garnered significant media coverage and sparked debate regarding corporate leadership and public image, Solomon utilized his platform to donate proceeds to various charitable causes, including opioid addiction treatment. By 2023, reports indicated he would step back from public DJ performances. Solomon serves on several boards, including the board of trustees for Hamilton College—where he has served as chairman—the Robin Hood Foundation, and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. He continues to lead Goldman Sachs as it navigates the competitive landscape of global financial services.
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Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs, successfully steering the preeminent Wall Street investment bank through the COVID-19 financial crash and the subsequent inflation spikes
Aggressively pushed to diversify Goldman Sachs' revenue streams, drastically expanding its asset and wealth management divisions to rely less on highly volatile trading revenues
His ambitious, highly publicized push into consumer banking (Marcus/Apple Card) resulted in billions of dollars in losses and severe internal friction, ultimately forcing a humiliating, complete strategic retreat by 2024
Faced intense, near-mutinous dissatisfaction from Goldman Sachs' elite partnership ranks in 2023 regarding his abrasive management style, massive corporate layoffs, and his highly scrutinized side career as an EDM DJ, which the board viewed as a massive distraction
Universally criticized by junior banking analysts following the infamous '100-hour work week' leaked presentation in 2021, highlighting the brutal, exhausting nature of Goldman's corporate culture
News articles featuring David Solomon
Successfully navigated the firm through the complex legal fallout of the 1MDB Malaysian sovereign wealth fund scandal, securing deferred prosecution agreements and stabilizing the bank's global reputation
Born in Hartsdale, New York, in 1962.
Graduated from Hamilton College in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Joined Drexel Burnham Lambert in 1986, working initially in commercial paper and later transitioning to high-yield bonds.
Worked as a Managing Director and part of the management committee at Bear Stearns during the mid-1990s.
Joined Goldman Sachs as a partner in 1999 to work with their leveraged finance team.
Appointed to the Goldman Sachs Management Committee in 2004.
Named co-head of the Goldman Sachs Investment Banking Division in 2006, a role held for 10 years.
Began recreational career as an electronic dance music producer and DJ under the name 'D-Sol' around 2015.
Appointed president and co-chief operating officer of Goldman Sachs in January 2017.
Became the sole chief operating officer of Goldman Sachs in March 2018.
Took office as chief executive officer (CEO) of Goldman Sachs on October 1, 2018.
Assumed the additional role of chairman of the board of directors of Goldman Sachs in January 2019.
Announced in 2019 that Goldman Sachs would no longer finance new oil and gas drilling or exploration projects in the Arctic.
Implemented a policy in 2020 requiring companies to have at least one diverse board member to lead their IPOs.
Serves as the chairman of the Board of Trustees of Hamilton College.
Serves on the Board of Trustees of New York-Presbyterian Hospital.
Serves on the board of the Robin Hood Foundation.
In 2020, David Solomon faced public backlash for performing a DJ set at a concert in the Hamptons during the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was subsequently investigated by New York state health authorities for 'egregious' social distancing violations, though Solomon himself was not personally charged.
In 2021, Goldman Sachs was embroiled in the long-running 1MDB corruption scandal, which involved the firm arranging and underwriting bond sales for the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund that were later found to be vehicles for bribery. While the primary misconduct occurred under previous leadership, Solomon—who was COO at the time of the transactions—faced significant scrutiny and a $10 million pay cut as part of the bank's resolution of the case, which included billions of dollars in global settlements.
In 2021, Solomon faced internal and public criticism after a group of junior analysts created a viral 'Working Conditions Survey' detailing 100-hour workweeks and claims of workplace abuse. In response to the backlash, Solomon sent a voice message to the firm acknowledging the complaints and pledging to strengthen the enforcement of the bank's 'Saturday rule' to ensure at least one day off per week.
Starting around 2022, Solomon faced widespread internal and shareholder criticism regarding his strategy for the bank's consumer banking division, Marcus. The ambitious project incurred billions of dollars in losses, leading to a significant retreat from the strategy, a reorganization, and reports of eroded morale and friction among senior partners.