Denis Coleman is living proof that having an undergraduate degree in politics can lead to incredible wealth and success in the financial world. Coleman has spent essentially his entire professional career at Goldman Sachs. In January 2022, his career reached a new high point when he officially assumed the position of Chief Financial Officer for one of the world's largest investment banks. At the time, it was the latest in a series of C-suite changes on Wall Street, showing how big banks are gradually promoting a new generation of leaders in finance. For many, Coleman’s proven track record of strong judgment and operational capability across roles of increasing responsibility made him the ideal candidate for the CFO role at Goldman.
"His strong foundation across capital markets and risk management position him well to succeed as we seek to build on our momentum across our client franchise and deliver shareholder value,” Goldman CEO David Solomon said about Coleman, who now receives a $1.5 million annual salary and is eligible for a bonus each year.
As a Goldman lifer, Coleman has spent more than 25 years with the company. In 1996, he started as an analyst in the Bank Loan Group. Two years later, he moved to Capital Markets in what was then the Fixed Income, Currency, and Commodities Division. By 2004, he was transferred to the Investment Banking Division. Coleman was named managing director in 2005 and partner in 2008. In 2009, he became head of EMEA Credit Finance in London and was then named head of the EMEA Financing Group from 2016 to 2018. Prior to his CFO role, Coleman led Goldman's global financing unit, which works on equity and debt capital market transactions.
In addition to his CFO duties, he also serves on the Management Committee, Firmwide Enterprise Risk Committee, Firmwide Asset Liability Committee, Firmwide Investment Policy Committee, and Firmwide Risk Council. Coleman holds a Bachelor of Arts in politics from Princeton University.