John F. W. Rogers

John F. W. Rogers
Born	(1956-04-15) April 15, 1956 Seneca Falls, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Business executive
Years active	1970s–present
Known for	Executive vice president, chief of staff, and board secretary at Goldman Sachs; Under Secretary of State for Management (1991–1993)

John Francis William Rogers (born April 15, 1956) is an American executive currently serving as executive vice president, chief of staff, and board secretary at Goldman Sachs.

Early life and education

Rogers was born in Seneca Falls, New York and completed his studies at George Washington University.

Federal government

Throughout his early career, Rogers occupied significant positions within various U.S. administrations. He began as a research assistant to David Gergen, communications director for President Gerald Ford, and subsequently worked with Arthur F. Burns. At age 27, he became the youngest individual appointed as communications director under President Ronald Reagan. Following the transition of Reagan’s chief of staff, James Baker, to the role of Secretary of the Treasury, Rogers joined the Treasury Department as an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury from 1985 until 1987. Later, during President George H. W. Bush’s term, he served as Under Secretary of State for Management between 1991 and 1993.

Goldman Sachs

Rogers entered Goldman Sachs in 1994 within its Fixed Income Division and subsequently assumed the role of chief of staff to CEOs including Jon S. Corzine, Henry Paulson, Lloyd Blankfein, and David M. Solomon. He attained partnership status in 2000 and is known for having no direct revenue responsibilities while maintaining a minimal public presence. During his tenure at Goldman, Rogers was a trusted advisor to Treasury Secretary Paulson and was part of Secretary of State James Baker’s close advisory group.

In 2011, CEO Lloyd Blankfein included Rogers among the firm’s eleven top executives. By 2019, he held the positions of executive vice president, chief of staff, and board secretary at Goldman Sachs. Additionally, he chaired the board of the Atlantic Council, a prominent U.S. think tank focused on global affairs. Rogers also serves as a life trustee and treasurer for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, and holds Vice Chairman roles on the boards of both the White House Historical Association and the American Academy in Rome.

In September 2019, Rogers was invited as one of the U.S. financial delegates to a White House state dinner honoring Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. That November, he engaged with candidates for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination to highlight issues important to small businesses.

In April 2020, Rogers established The Finance 202, a lobbying organization dedicated to advocating for small business interests. Later that year, he was named Chair of the Board for the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) for 2021.

Awards

In February 2020, Rogers was honored with the ICAA Arthur Ross Award in recognition of his contributions to historic preservation.

Personal life

Rogers resides in a property located on Embassy Row in Washington, D.C.. He is married to Deborah Lehr, who previously served as a senior negotiator on China trade matters during the Clinton Administration. The couple has two children. In 2018, they attended a state dinner hosted by President Donald Trump for French President Emmanuel Macron.

A profile published by The New York Times in 2006 highlighted Rogers’ passion for historic preservation along with his preference to avoid public exposure and photography.