James Gorman
James Gorman is a highly respected global financial executive and corporate leader, best known as Chairman Emeritus of Morgan Stanley and Chairman of The Walt Disney Company, where he also chairs the Succession Planning Committee. With decades of experience at the highest levels of global finance and governance, Gorman is widely regarded as one of the most influential leaders on Wall Street. Gorman previously served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Morgan Stanley for more than a decade, overseeing one of the most significant strategic transformations in the firm’s history. Under his leadership, Morgan Stanley expanded and strengthened its wealth management and asset management businesses, diversified revenue streams, and emerged as a more resilient, globally integrated leader in investment banking, capital markets, and financial services. A veteran Wall Street banker, Gorman brings deep expertise in corporate strategy, risk management, leadership succession, and institutional governance. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, he held a series of senior executive roles at Merrill Lynch, where he helped build and scale global wealth management operations. Earlier in his career, he was a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company, advising leading financial institutions on strategy, organizational design, and long-term growth. Beyond his corporate leadership, Gorman has played an active role in public service and financial system oversight. He previously served as a Director of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and as President of the Federal Advisory Council to the U.S. Federal Reserve Board. He has also served on numerous civic, nonprofit, and corporate boards.
James Gorman Professional Experience / Academic History
Professional Experience
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Chairman Emeritus
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Chairman and CEO
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Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Strategy
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Senior Partner
Academic History
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Master of Business Administration
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B.A., L.L.B.
CURRENT AFFILIATIONS
Chairman, The Walt Disney Company
Director, Council on Foreign Relations
Chair of the Board, Columbia Business School
Trustee, Columbia University
Member, Business Roundtable
Graduate Member, The Business Council
Senior Advisor, General Atlantic
MORGAN STANLEY
James Gorman joined Morgan Stanley in February 2006 as Chief Operating Officer of the Global Wealth Management Group, marking the beginning of a transformative era for the firm.
He went on to serve as Chief Executive Officer from 2010 to 2023 and Chairman from 2012 to 2023, guiding Morgan Stanley through one of the most consequential periods in modern financial history.
In the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis, Gorman led a strategic overhaul that fundamentally reshaped the firm’s business model.
Under his leadership, Morgan Stanley diversified away from a heavy reliance on traditional investment banking and placed a strategic emphasis on wealth management and asset management.
Gorman’s tenure is widely credited with establishing Morgan Stanley as one of the most stable and consistently profitable major financial institutions, with a business mix designed to perform across economic cycles.
EARLY CAREER
Before joining Morgan Stanley, Gorman held a series of senior leadership roles at Merrill Lynch, beginning in 1999 as Chief Marketing Officer.
He later served as Head of Strategy and Research, as well as Head of the U.S. and Global Private Client Business, where he played a key role in expanding and modernizing the firm’s wealth management platform.
Earlier in his career, Gorman was a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company, serving as a member of the firm’s Financial Services Practice, where he advised leading global banks and asset managers on strategy, operations, and growth initiatives.
Beyond corporate leadership, Gorman has played an influential role in financial system governance and public service.
He previously served as a Director of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and President of the Federal Advisory Council to the U.S. Federal Reserve Board, contributing to policy discussions on financial stability and capital markets.
Throughout his career, Gorman has been widely featured in leading global financial media, including Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Forbes, Bloomberg, Fortune, The New York Times, Business Insider, Barron’s, CNBC, Fox Business, and CNN.