O próximo CEO da Goldman Sachs

John Waldron, the current COO of Goldman Sachs, is favored to succeed David Solomon as the company's CEO, according to the Wall Street Journal. The board has been discussing accelerating Waldron's promotion to secure his presence, as he has previously expressed interest in exploring opportunities at private equity firms like Apollo Global and Carlyle while Solomon stated he had no intention of leaving the firm early.

In early 2025, Waldron was convinced to stay with a $80 million retention bonus and a board seat. Now, it seems his promotion to CEO is imminent. This move would also allow the board to reorganize other senior management roles. Currently, CFO Denis Coleman is taking on some COO responsibilities, while Dan Dees, Ashok Varadhan, and Marc Nachmann are considered for higher positions in the org chart.

If implemented, Solomon, who has been CEO since 2018, would step down for one or two years before leaving the company, potentially assisting Waldron, a longtime friend, in establishing himself in a role he now appears destined for. Born in Cleveland in 1969, Waldron moved to Philadelphia at 15 and excelled in sports and writing during school.

He attended Middlebury College for English and Economics, later discovering his true calling in business at the University of Chicago's summer program. Initially rejected by Goldman Sachs due to a poor performance in financial modeling tests, Waldron later joined Bear Stearns, where he formed a strong professional relationship with Solomon.

They both rose through the ranks in different areas before becoming co-heads of investment banking. In 2018, they took on the roles of CEO and COO, respectively. Solomon initially focused on expanding the consumer credit portfolio, which underperformed for shareholders. However, their recent efforts have centered on the bank's core businesses – M&A, markets, and asset and wealth management – while implementing "One Goldman Sachs," a strategy aimed at cross-selling between units.

Waldron, known for his negotiation skills and ability to build relationships, is credited with improving internal and external communication at Goldman, particularly in handling large transactions and engaging with public and private entities. As COO, Waldron has also helped nurture the bank's new generation of leaders, serving as a bridge between partners, executives, and the board.

Waldron is married, has six children, and lives on the Upper West Side, contrary to the occasional DJ persona. Goldman Sachs' stock has risen 13% over the past year, outpacing JP Morgan's 5% gain and Morgan Stanley's 18% increase. Since Solomon and Waldron took over, the bank's value has quadrupled, currently valued at $263 billion on the stock market.