James H. Donovan
James H. Donovan (Jim Donovan) is vice chairman of global client coverage at Goldman SachsGoldman SachsGoldman Sachs is an American financial services group headquartered in New York whose businesses include investment banking, securities trading, asset management, and wealth management. It traces its origins to the commercial paper business Marcus Goldman founded in 1869; it listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1999 under the ticker GS and became a bank holding company in 2008. David Solomon serves as chairman and chief executive officer.Open the full entry, which he joined in 1993 and where he became a partner in 2000; he is also an adjunct professor at the University of Virginia School of Law. He was nominated as U.S. deputy Treasury secretary in 2017 but withdrew.
Contents14 sections
Key facts
Early Years: Education
Donovan earned a B.S. in chemical engineering from MIT, an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management in 1989 and a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1993.[1]
1993–2000Joining Goldman Sachs and Becoming Partner
He joined Goldman Sachs in 1993 and was named a managing director and partner in 2000.[2]
2002–2006Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund
From 2002 to 2006 he served on the board of the Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund.[3]
2008Prostate Cancer Research Fund
In 2008 he established the Jim Donovan Fund for Prostate Cancer Research at Dana-Farber in honor of a friend who died of cancer.[4]
March–May 2017: Deputy Treasury Nomination and Withdrawal
On March 15, 2017, President Donald Trump said he would nominate Donovan as deputy Treasury secretary.[5]
At the time he said, “I like to say I was lucky enough to get a job at Goldman Sachs and smart enough to take it.”[6]
On May 19 he withdrew, saying, “at this time I want to focus on my family, and I can no longer accept it.”[7]
After 2017: Intelligence Advisory Board
After withdrawing, he accepted an appointment to the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board during Trump’s first term.[8]
June 2021Vice Chairman of Global Client Coverage
On June 29, 2021, Goldman Sachs announced his appointment as vice chairman of global client coverage across its divisions; he also joined the Investment Banking Senior Leadership Council.[2]
March 2022Teaching at UVA Law
As of March 2022 he had taught at UVA Law for 14 years. He said, “Teaching is my favorite thing to do, and I am so fortunate to be able to do it at UVA.”[8]
May 2024Engagement
In May 2024 news emerged of his engagement to Hope Hicks, a former aide to Donald Trump.[9]
June–August 2025: University of Virginia Board of Visitors
On June 20, 2025, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced Donovan’s appointment to the University of Virginia Board of Visitors; appointees’ terms began on July 1, pending confirmation by the General Assembly.[10]
In August he was named, as a board member, to the 28-member committee guiding the university’s presidential search.[11]
On August 28, 2025, the Virginia Senate Privileges and Elections Committee voted 8–6 to reject four Board of Visitors appointments, including his; with related litigation under way, his status afterward was unclear at the time.[12]
October 2026MIT Talk
On October 22, 2026, he gave a talk at MIT on investment banking at Goldman Sachs.[1]
Board and Committee Roles
He serves on the board of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health.[4]
He is also a member of MIT’s Corporation Development Committee and Athletic Committee and teaches corporate strategy and leadership at the UVA School of Law.[3]
He is an advisory board member of the Karsh Institute of Democracy at the University of Virginia.[13]
Political Fundraising and Donations
He was an adviser and fundraiser for Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign and helped raise money for Jeb Bush’s campaign.[6]
As of July 2025 he had donated more than $950,000 to Republican candidates and committees over his career.[10]
Sources
- Goldman Sachs Investment Banking Overview with Jim Donovan (in 32-141) (opens in a new window)
- James H. Donovan Appointed Vice Chairman (opens in a new window)
- Jim Donovan (opens in a new window)
- James H. Donovan (opens in a new window)
- Trump to Nominate Goldman Sachs' Donovan as Deputy Treasury Secretary (opens in a new window)
- How Jim Donovan got an edge on Wall Street as a Goldman Sachs banker (opens in a new window)
- Trump Pick for Treasury Department No. 2 Is Dropping Out -- Update (opens in a new window)
- Adjunct Law Professor, Unlikely YouTube Star: Goldman Sachs’ Jim Donovan Likes and Shares Knowledge (opens in a new window)
- Hope Hicks, 35, Engaged to Goldman Sachs Boss, 58: Report (opens in a new window)
- With four new appointees, entire Board of Visitors now Youngkin-appointed (opens in a new window)
- Former law dean to serve as interim president as panel guides presidential search (opens in a new window)
- Senate votes down more Youngkin nominees, likely leaving five vacancies on the Board (opens in a new window)
- Jim Donovan (opens in a new window)