Foundation Welcomes New Chief Financial Officer

SEATTLE -- The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today announced that Alexander S. Friedman has been named Chief Financial Officer of the foundation, headquartered in Seattle, Wash.

As CFO, Friedman will oversee the foundation’s various financial functions, including finance and accounting, financial planning and analysis, regulatory and risk management, facilities and real estate, and also be involved with other foundation activities. He also will serve as a strategic partner with the CEO and the three individual program presidents as they develop their unique strategies and tactics for long-term impact.

Friedman is currently an investment banker at Lazard, the international investment bank, where he is a mergers and acquisitions specialist and serves as the firm’s Co-Head of the Financial Sponsor Group. Prior to Lazard, Friedman led corporate development at Medarex, a public biotechnology company. He also served as a White House Fellow in the Clinton Administration and as an Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Special Projects. Friedman holds a JD from Columbia Law School, an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BA from Princeton University. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and has been an active board member of several national non-profit organizations. He hails from New York City.

Remarking on his new position, Friedman said, "I am excited, honored, and humbled to be able to join such a talented and committed group of individuals and contribute to their important work."

Friedman will report to Chief Operating Officer, Cheryl Scott. Scott welcomed his arrival, saying, "We are delighted that Alex is joining us at this crucial time for the foundation," Scott said. "His expertise and background will be invaluable as we manage our growth in support of deepening and accelerating our work around the world." 

Friedman will begin work at the foundation on March 19.