H. Robert Heller
Heinz Robert Heller | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 8, 1940 Cologne, Germany |
| Occupation | Economist |
| Years active | 1965–present |
| Known for | Governor of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors; President of VISA U.S.A. Inc. |
Heinz Robert Heller (born January 8, 1940) is an economist known for his tenure as a governor on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and as president of VISA U.S.A. Inc.
Education
Originally from Cologne, Germany, Heller moved to the United States in 1960. He obtained a B.A. from Parsons College in 1961, followed by an M.A. in economics from the University of Minnesota in 1962, and completed his Ph.D. in economics at the University of California, Berkeley in 1965.
Career
Heller's early professional years were dedicated to academia, where he held positions as assistant and associate professor at University of California, Los Angeles from 1965 to 1971. He then served as professor and chair of the economics department at the University of Hawaii between 1971 and 1974. Subsequently, he directed the Financial Studies Division at the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C., from 1974 to 1978, managing research focused on monetary and financial issues.
In 1978, Heller joined Bank of America as senior vice president and director of international economic research. During his time there, he contributed to important committees such as the Management Advisory Council and International Money Policy Committee, while also chairing the Foreign Exchange Outlook and Country Risk Rating Committees.
President Reagan nominated Heller in 1986 to serve on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, where he received unanimous confirmation. Throughout his term, he acted as administrative governor and led the Committee on Bank Supervision and Regulation. Additionally, he represented the Federal Reserve at the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development. His notable policy positions included supporting commercial banks’ ability to engage in investment banking activities, permitting deposits in foreign currencies, and advocating for the elimination of restrictions on interstate banking.
In 1989, Heller moved to VISA International as executive vice president responsible for global finance, audit, and risk management functions. He was promoted to president and CEO of VISA U.S.A. in 1991. Under his leadership, he was honored by American Banker as a prominent "Leader of the Bankcard Business."
Other activities
Heller holds board memberships with Bank of Marin, Sonic Automotive Inc., and various private enterprises. He previously chaired Marin General Hospital and holds the title of Staff Commodore at the San Francisco Yacht Club.
Publications
- International Trade, Prentice Hall, 1968; 2nd edition 1973 (published internationally)
- The Economic System, The Macmillan Co., 1972 (Portuguese edition 1977)
- International Monetary Economics, Prentice Hall, 1974 (available in Japanese and Malay editions)
- Japanese Investments in the United States (co-authored with Emily E. Heller), Praeger Publishers, 1974
- The Unlikely Governor, Maybridge Press, 2015