Roger W. Ferguson, Jr.

Roger Ferguson
Vice Chair of the Federal Reserve System
In office
October 5, 1999 – April 28, 2006
President Bill Clinton
George W. Bush
Preceded by Alice Rivlin
Succeeded by Donald Kohn
Personal details
Born (1951-10-28) October 28, 1951
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Spouse(s) Annette Nazareth
Alma mater Harvard University
Pembroke College, Cambridge

Roger W. Ferguson, Jr. (born October 28, 1951 in Washington, D.C.) is an American economist, who was Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from 1999 to 2006, and has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association - College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA) since April, 2008. Alphabet Inc. recently appointed Roger W. Ferguson Jr. to its board of directors.[1]

Education

Ferguson received a B.A. in economics magna cum laude in 1973, a J.D. cum laude in 1979, and a Ph.D. in economics in 1981, all from Harvard University. From 1973 to 1974, he attended Pembroke College at Cambridge University on a Frank Knox Memorial Fellowship. In 2004 Ferguson was elected to an Honorary Fellowship there. In addition, he has honorary degrees from Lincoln College (Illinois),[2] Webster University, Washington and Jefferson College, Michigan State University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, St. Lawrence University, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Georgetown University, Metropolitan College of New York, Wabash College and Colby College. Ferguson is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a Member of the American Philosophical Society.

Career

From 1981 to 1984, Ferguson was an attorney at the New York City office of Davis Polk & Wardwell, where he worked with commercial banks, investment banks, and Fortune 500 corporations on syndicated loans, public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and new product development.

Ferguson was a partner at McKinsey & Company. He was based in New York City from 1984 to 1997, and managed a variety of studies for financial institutions. Dr. Ferguson also served as Director of Research and Information Systems, overseeing a staff of 400 research professionals and managing the firm's investments in knowledge management technologies.

Federal Reserve

Service

From November, 1997, until his appointment as Vice Chairman in October, 1999, he served as a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

International policy positions

As Vice Chairman, among other duties, Ferguson represented the Federal Reserve in international policy groups. Between July 1998 and March 2000, Ferguson served as Chairman of the Joint Y2K Council. The Council, supported by the Bank for International Settlements, was formed to address issues associated with the Year 2000 computer challenge within the global financial supervisory community.

Ferguson also served as Chairman of the Group of Ten Working Party on Financial Sector Consolidation. Formed in September 1999 at the request of the finance ministers and central bank governors of the G-10, the Working Party examined the causes of consolidation in the financial sector and its potential effects. The Working Party released its final report on January 25, 2001.

During 2003, Ferguson became the Chairman of the Committee on the Global Financial System (CGFS), a central bank panel that monitors and examines broad issues related to financial markets and systems. He also became the Chairman of the Financial Stability Forum (FSF), which promotes international financial stability through information exchange and international cooperation in financial supervision and surveillance. The Forum brings together on a regular basis national authorities responsible for financial stability in significant international financial centers. In his role as Chairman of the CGFS, Ferguson monitored financial markets and reported on financial conditions and financial stability to the Group of Ten (G10) Central Bank Governors. As Chairman of the FSF, Ferguson had a similar monitoring and reporting role for the Group of Seven (also known as the G-7) Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors. He also presented an opening statement at the semi-annual meetings of the International Monetary and Financial Committee of the International Monetary Fund.

Chairmanship reports in 2005

On October 11, 2005, Lawrence Kudlow stated that his belief that Alan Greenspan was pushing Ferguson's name to the Bush Administration for the appointment of the Federal Reserve Chairmanship. As a supply-side economist, Kudlow said he was worried that Ferguson would follow a Neo-Keynesian policy and would oppose the Bush Administration's economic policy. On October 25, 2005, The Washington Post reported that senior members at the Federal Reserve, including Alan Greenspan, were encouraging the Bush Administration to appoint Ferguson to the Federal Reserve Chairmanship. The position eventually went to Ben Bernanke [3]

Resignation

On February 22, 2006, Ferguson sent his resignation letter to President George W. Bush citing "he wanted to pursue other professional opportunities." His resignation came into effect on April 28, 2006.

Post-Fed career

On June 19, 2006, Swiss Re announced his appointment as Chairman of Swiss Re America Holding Corporation and Member of Swiss Re's Executive Board. On October 3, 2006, Swiss Re announced his appointment as Head of Financial Services and Member of Swiss Re's Executive Committee.

On April 4, 2008, Roger W. Ferguson, Jr. was named the new President and Chief Executive Officer of the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association - College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA), succeeding Herbert M. Allison, effective April 14, 2008.

In 2010, Ferguson became a member of the Board of Directors of International Flavors and Fragrances, a leading creator and manufacturer of flavors and fragrances. In 2015, Ferguson became a member of the Board of Directors of General Mills. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of Audax Health, a start-up that blends social media with health care, until 2014, when Audax Health was sold to Optum.

On June 29, 2016, Ferguson became a member of Board of Directors of Alphabet Inc.[1]

Not-for-profit service

Roger W. Ferguson, Jr. has a history of serving as a member of several not-for-profit boards. Currently he serves as Chairman of the Conference Board and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Institute for Advanced Study and the Board of Trustees of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Formerly, Ferguson was Co-Chairman of the Committee for Economic Development. He was also Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Economic Club of New York and of the Business Higher Education Forum. Ferguson was also a member of the Board of Overseers of Harvard University, serving as President during 2008-2009, an elected member of the Board of Directors of the Harvard Alumni Association, a Trustee of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the National Bureau of Economic Research and the New America Foundation. Ferguson also served as Treasurer of the Friends of Education, a Trustees' Committee of The Museum of Modern Art.

Ferguson is also active in higher education policy discussion groups, serving in 2015 and 2016 as co-chairman of the Commission on Post-secondary Education (sponsored by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences). He was formerly a member of both the Commission on the Future of Graduate Education (sponsored by the Council of Graduate Schools) and the Commission on the Humanities and Social Sciences (sponsored by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences).

Ferguson is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a member and trustee of the Group of Thirty and a member of the International Advisory Council of the China Banking Regulatory Commission.

Personal

Ferguson is married to former United States Securities and Exchange Commission Commissioner Annette Nazareth, and they have two children.

Achievements

Ferguson was the only Federal Reserve Governor in Washington, D.C. during the September 11 attacks in 2001. He was responsible for leading the Federal Reserve's initial response to the terrorist attacks and was praised for his expert handling of the crisis.[4][5] [6]

While at the Fed, Ferguson led two working groups to improve the transparency of Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) decisions and the clarity of FOMC communication. These resulted in the release of a statement at the end of each FOMC meeting, explaining the rationale for the interest rate decision and including an assessment of the risks facing the economy. ()

While at the Fed, Ferguson served as Chairman of the Group of Ten Working Party on Financial Sector Consolidation. The Working Party released its final report on January 25, 2001.[7]

While at the Fed, Ferguson led the Federal Reserve's efforts to modernize the national retail payment system of the United States. This ultimately resulted in the passage and signing into law of the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act, which is also known as Check 21. The law allows the recipient of the original paper check to create a digital version of the original check, a process known as check truncation, into an electronic format called a "substitute check", thereby eliminating the need for further handling of the physical document.

Alan Greenspan has called Ferguson "one of the most effective Vice Chairmen in the history of the Federal Reserve."[8]

Ferguson proposed the idea of a journal dedicated to central banking theory and practice. The resulting International Journal of Central Banking was announced in 2004 and first published in 2005, with two objectives: to disseminate widely the best policy-relevant research on central banking and to promote communication among central banks. The IJCB has more than 50 sponsoring institutions.[9]

With three co-authors, in November 2007 Ferguson published "International Financial Stability", Geneva Report No. 9, dealing with challenges to global financial stability and including observations regarding the liquidity crisis of 2007. [10]

Ferguson served as the vice chairman of the Group of 30 study group that published "The Structure of Financial Supervision: Approaches and Challenges in a Global Marketplace". The study of the regulatory structure of 17 jurisdictions was released on October 6, 2008.[11]

Ferguson served as chairman of the Group of 30 study group that published "Enhancing Financial Stability and Resilience: Macroprudential Policy,Tools and Systems for the Future". The study called on public officials to empower systemic regulators with new tools to enhance the stability and resilience of the global financial system and potentially lessen the severity of future crises. The study was released on October 10, 2010.[12]

Between 2008 and 2012, Ferguson served as economic advisor to President Obama, initially as a member of the President-elect's Transition Economic Advisory Board and subsequently as a member of the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board[13] and the President's Commission on Jobs and Competitiveness[14]

Ferguson served as chairman of the Group of 30 study group that published "Toward Effective Governance of Financial Institutions". The study, which has been translated into three languages. made several concrete and practical recommendations to enhance governance of financial institutions, including recommendations for management, boards of directors, supervisors and shareholders. The study was released on April 12, 2012.[15]

Ferguson served as co-chairman of the Group of 30 study group that published "Banking Conduct and Culture: A Call for Sustained and Comprehensive Reform". Following two previous reports, the study expands on the role of conduct and culture in the governance of the world's largest financial institutions. The report identifies shortcomings but also good practice in promoting a strong banking culture, making a series of recommendations that can be drawn upon by leaders as they seek to address culture in their firms. The study was released July, 2015.[16]

Between 2010 and 2012, Ferguson co-chaired a National Research Council panel on the Long-Run Macro-Economic Effects of the Aging U.S. Population.[17] The final report was issued in September, 2012, under the title, "Aging and the Macroeconomy: Long-Term Implications of an Older Population".[18]

In 2014 and 2015, Ferguson served as a member of the Panel of Economic Advisers for the Congressional Budget Office.

Awards

References

  1. 1 2 "Alphabet Investor Relations". Alphabet Investor Relations. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
  2. ↑ 2001 LC Honorary Degree Recipient Shows Strength During Crisis LincolnCollege.edu (accessed September 16, 2010)
  3. ↑ "Bernanke Seen as Safe Pick For a White House in Straits". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. 2005-10-25. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  4. ↑ "The Astonishing Story of the Federal Reserve on 9-11". Daily Kos. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  5. ↑ UCHITELLE, LOUIS. "Vice Chairman of the Fed, a Greenspan Ally, Resigns". NYT. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  6. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/24/opinion/24iht-eddavid_ed2_html. Retrieved May 20, 2012. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ↑ http://www.bis.org/pub/gten05.htm. Retrieved June 3, 2012. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ↑ Henderson, Neil. "Fed Vice Chairman Resigns, Adding to Turnover at Top". The Washington Post. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  9. ↑ "Background". Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  10. ↑ Tett, Gillian (2007-11-13). "Central bankers must work 'more closely together'". FT.com. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  11. ↑ "The Structure of Financial Supervision: Approaches and Challenges in a Global Marketplace" (PDF). Group30.org. Retrieved 2008-10-06.
  12. ↑ "Enhancing Financial Stability and Resilience: Macroprudential Policy, Tools, and Systems for the Future" (PDF). Group30.org. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  13. ↑ "Obama to meet with economic team, talk to media". Reuters. 2008-11-07. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  14. ↑ "Factbox: CEOs named to Obama's U.S. jobs council". Reuters. Retrieved 2014-02-20.
  15. ↑ "Toward Effective Governance at Financial Institutions" (PDF). Group30.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-01-13. Retrieved 2014-02-20.
  16. ↑ "Banking Conduct and Culture: A Call for Sustained and Comprehensive Reform" (PDF). Group30..org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-08-24. Retrieved 2015-07-15.
  17. ↑ "Committee: Long-Run Macro-Economic Effects of the Aging U.S. Population". .nationalacademies.org. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  18. ↑ "Home | National-Academies.org | Where the Nation Turns for Independent, Expert Advice". National-Academies.org. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
Business positions
Preceded by
Alice Rivlin		 Vice Chair of the Federal Reserve System
1999–2006 		Succeeded by
Donald Kohn
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