Robert Hormats

Robert Hormats, a former Under Secretary of State, has a distinguished history of public service and a deep expertise in international affairs. He has held significant positions such as Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, Ambassador and Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, and Senior Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs at the Department of State. Additionally, he served as a Senior Staff Member for International Economic Affairs on the National Security Council. Hormats is currently the Vice Chairman of Kissinger Associates.

Hormats' experience extends beyond public service into the financial sector, where he spent over 25 years as an Investment Banker on Wall Street, culminating in his role as Vice Chairman (International) at Goldman Sachs. His work has been pivotal during critical global events, including the opening of China in the 1970s and the Middle East Shuttle Diplomacy. He has made more than 90 trips to China, working closely with Chinese authorities since the era of Mao Tse-Tung and Deng Xiaoping.

In addition to his roles in finance and government, Hormats is actively involved in academic and policy circles. He is a board member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a member of the Board of Visitors of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and the Dean’s Council of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He also contributes to the advisory boards of both Foreign Policy and International Economics magazines. Hormats discusses issues like corporate risk management in an age of terrorism and the necessity of keeping the U.S. workforce competitive in a globalizing economy, emphasizing educational reforms and employer-educator collaboration. He is an author of two books and numerous articles in esteemed publications. Hormats is a recipient of the French Legion of Honor and the Arthur Fleming Award.