Overview
- Tuesday reporting by multiple outlets said Goldman’s board is finalizing a succession plan that would elevate President and COO John Waldron to CEO in late 2027 or 2028.
- Under the reported blueprint, David Solomon would move to an executive chairman role for one to two years to oversee the transition.
- Waldron, a 57-year-old dealmaker who joined Goldman in 2000, earned an $80 million retention package and a 2025 board seat as he helped steer the bank’s strategic shift back to trading, dealmaking and wealth management.
- Operational duties are already being redistributed inside the bank, with Finance Chief Denis Coleman taking on some of Waldron’s responsibilities and senior executives including Marc Nachmann, Ashok Varadhan and Dan Dees named as possible candidates for the open presidency.
- The timetable remains fluid, Goldman declined to comment, and the reported plan raises governance questions about how long Solomon would cede day-to-day control and whether waiting could prompt talent pressures or outside offers for Waldron.