John Waldron is ‘one of the most non-Wall Street people’ you’ve met—but he’s in line to be the next CEO of Goldman Sachs

John Waldron, a longtime Goldman Sachs executive, is reportedly set to become the bank's next CEO, potentially taking over from current CEO David Solomon within the next year. Mayo, a Wells Fargo analyst, describes Waldron as one of the most non-Wall Street people he has met, despite his extensive experience at Goldman Sachs. His background includes working at Bear Stearns and holding various key positions at Goldman, including Chief Operating Officer and President since 2018.

Waldron's appointment as CEO comes as the bank's board discusses succession plans, but an official confirmation has not yet been made. Goldman's spokesperson, Tony Fratto, stated that the board regularly discusses succession plans and that any timing is merely speculation. Waldron's past experience includes serving as co-head of leveraged finance, global co-head of the financial sponsors group, and global head of investment banking services before becoming co-head of the investment banking division in 2014.

His role has extended to overseeing Goldman's artificial intelligence initiatives, which involve deploying AI assistants and coding tools to handle repetitive tasks. This strategy aims to make the firm more efficient and resilient. In 2026, Waldron's potential succession to the CEO position has been widely anticipated, with the bank's 2026 proxy statement crediting him for overseeing its AI initiatives.

However, Solomon's future role remains uncertain. While Waldron is expected to take over as CEO, Solomon is reportedly set to become executive chairman. Corporate governance experts suggest that this arrangement could have both advantages and drawbacks. On the positive side, Solomon can help train the new CEO and deal with investors and external stakeholders. However, the potential challenges include unclear roles and expectations, which could lead to confusion and hinder the new CEO's success.