ISRI lands former Goldman Sachs president as speaker

The Washington-based Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) says former Goldman Sachs President Gary D. Cohn will serve as its “Main Stage speaker” April 28, as part of ISRI2021, its online convention and exposition.

“Gary Cohn’s wide array of economic knowledge combined with his plethora of experience in both the public and private sectors provide him with the right perspective to speak to the questions that are top of mind for recyclers,” says ISRI Vice President of Meetings & Convention Chuck Carr. “He will provide attendees with straight-shooting insights on the COVID economy, and his thoughts on what’s to come for both United States and global market economies alike.”

Cohn began his career at Pittsburgh-based United States Steel Corp. before moving to New York to trade on the New York Commodities Exchange from 1982 to 1990. In 1990, Cohn joined Goldman Sachs, where he worked for more than 25 years and held several leadership positions, including global co-head of the Equities and Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities Division.

From 2006 to 2016, Cohn was president and chief operating officer of the firm. He also was a member of the board of directors and chairman of the Firmwide Client and Business Standards Committee. From Jan. 2017 to April 2018, Cohn served as assistant to the president for economic policy and director of the National Economic Council at the White House during the Donald J. Trump administration.

In his current position at IBM, Cohn works in partnership with that firm’s Executive Leadership Team on a range of business initiatives and external engagement, in areas including business development, client services, public advocacy and client relationship management.

The wider ISRI2021 event, taking place April 20-22 and 27-29, has been designed to provide attendees with access to an exhibit hall “featuring the latest in recycling industry innovations, for an entire month beginning April 20.” Participants will also have around the clock, on-demand access to more than 40 educational sessions categorized into four tracks: 1) business operations, technology and innovation; 2) federal, state or local issues including environmental issues and community relations; 3) international trade, domestic and global economics and commodities; and 4) safety, health and transportation.