Who is John Waldron, long seen as next Goldman CEO?
GS•Goldman Sachs is reportedly laying the groundwork for a succession plan that could see President and COO John Waldron succeed David Solomon as CEO as early as 2027 or 2028.
1. Career at Goldman
Waldron, 57, joined Goldman Sachs in 2000 after early-career work at Bear Stearns. He held senior investment banking roles before becoming president and chief operating officer in October 2018, the same month Solomon was named CEO.
2. Succession signals
In January 2025, Waldron and Solomon each received $80 million retention bonuses in restricted stock. Waldron joined Goldman’s board the following month; the article says analysts viewed the move as cementing his status as heir apparent. Waldron reportedly declined an approach from Apollo.
3. Leadership and background
Waldron was raised in Cleveland and earned a bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College. As COO, he has led operational priorities and is credited with developing OneGS 3.0, an AI-driven transformation plan introduced in late 2025 that was designed to support resilience, productivity and profitability through automation while capping headcount growth. He is married and has six children.
