Lewis Eisenberg

Not to be confused withLouis Eisenberg.

Lewis Eisenberg
United States Ambassador to Italy United States Ambassador to San Marino
In office October 4, 2017 – January 4, 2021
President	Donald Trump
Preceded by	John R. Phillips
Succeeded by	Jack Markell
Chair of thePort Authority of New York and New Jersey
In office November 9, 1995 – December 13, 2001
Preceded by	Kathleen Donovan
Succeeded by	Jack Sinagra
Personal details
Born	Lewis Michael Eisenberg (1942-10-12)October 12, 1942 Illinois,U.S.
Political party	Republican
Residence	Vero Beach, Florida
Education	Dartmouth College(BA) Cornell University(MBA)

Lewis Michael Eisenberg(born October 12, 1942) is an American financier and investor who was theUnited States Ambassador to Italyand theUnited States Ambassador to San Marino.He is known for co-founding and headingprivate equity firmGranite Capital International Group L.P. He has a multi-decade history in Americanpolitical fundraisingcircles and has held a number of national, state, and bi-state appointments throughout his career, including serving as the chairman of thePort Authority of New York and New Jerseyat the time of theSeptember 11, 2001 attackof theWorld Trade Center,which the Port Authority operated.

In July 2017, Eisenberg was named as PresidentDonald Trump's nominee to become theUnited States Ambassador to Italy.He was confirmed by theU.S. Senateon August 3, 2017.

Early life

Eisenberg was born to aJewishfamilyinIllinoisand grew up inChicago.His family made their living in the agricultural business. He attendedDartmouth College,earning a bachelor's degree in 1964. He enrolled atCornell University,where he earned anMBAin 1966.

Financial career

Eisenberg began his career onWall Streetafter completing his education atCornell University.He began working forGoldman Sachsin 1966.From 1966 to 1989, Eisenberg worked in a variety of capacities for Goldman Sachs. Eisenberg became a partner in 1978 and concluded his run at Goldman Sachs as co-head of the Equity Division.

In 1990, Eisenberg co-founded Granite Capital International Group L.P., an investment management firm where, as co-chairman, he oversaw investment management for private clients. He co-founded Granum Communicationsand served on that company's board until 2007. He served on the board of ITC, the nation's largest independent electric transmission business and a formerKKRportfolio company.

Eisenberg served as a senior advisor forKohlberg Kravis Robertsbeginning in 2009. Working alongside co-foundersHenry KravisandGeorge R. Roberts,Eisenberg provided enhanced investment expertise particularly in the public infrastructure arena.

Public service

Eisenberg was appointed byNew JerseyGovernorChristine Todd Whitmanto chair the New Jersey Commission on Privatization and Competitive Contracting in 1994.He was elected chairman of the board of Commissioners of thePort Authority of New York and New Jerseyon November 9, 1995. Prior to his election as chairman, Eisenberg had served since February 1994 as a commissioner on the same agency's board, having been nominated by Governor Christine Todd Whitman. During his term as chairman, his most notable achievement was the negotiation of a long-term lease withLarry Silversteinfor the World Trade Center;the Towers were at their highest occupancy in history in the late 1990sand the desire to privatize the buildings was born from an economic strategy of thePatakiadministration.

His term as chairman of the Port Authority ended in December 2001. It was during his time as chairman that the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks occurred at the Twin Towers, taking the lives of 84 Port Authority employees including then executive directorNeil Levin.

Prior to the9/11 terrorist attacks,Eisenberg was scheduled to step down as chairman of the Port Authority in preparation for a proposed appointment by then Acting New Jersey GovernorDonald DiFrancescoto the chairmanship of theNew Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority.

Eisenberg chose to stay on at the Port Authority through the days after the9/11 attackand to provide "continued leadership" in order "to provide a comforting continuity in times of tragedy".Soon after stepping down from the Port Authority,New YorkGovernorGeorge Patakiappointed Eisenberg as a director of theLower Manhattan Development Corporation's board in January 2002,where he remained involved with the aftermath of the attacks and contributed to the rebuilding of Lower Manhattan. At that time he was appointed by Pataki to chair the Victims' Families and Transportation Advisory Council until April 2003.

Politics

Eisenberg (right) with US Secretary of StateMike Pompeoin 2019

In 2000, Eisenberg served as the chairman of the Victory 2000 campaign in New Jersey. In January 2002, Eisenberg became the chairman of finance committee for theRepublican National Committeein Washington, D.C.In 2003, he became co-chairman of the NYC 2004 Host Committee for the Republican Convention and co-chairman of Bush/Cheney 2004 in New Jersey.Eisenberg served on the transition teams of Governors Whitman from New Jersey and Governor Pataki from New York and on the Bush-Cheney presidential transition team. He is a founder and former chairman of theRepublican Leadership Council,a political action committee based in Washington, D.C. From 2002 to 2004, he served as chairman for the finance committee of the Republican National Committee. In 2004, he served as co-chairman of the Convention Host Committee for the2004 Republican National Convention.In 2008, he served asJohn McCainfor President National Co-chairman, and as National Finance chairman for McCain/Palin Victory 2008.He was a fundraising leader for the presidential campaign ofDonald Trumpin 2016.He is a resident ofRumson, New Jersey.

Awards and recognition

In 1995, he received the Eagle Award from the New Jersey Alliance for Action. In 2000, Eisenberg was honored as the "Man of the Year" by theNational Conference for Community and Justicein New Jersey. In 2000,Monmouth Universitynamed him as the New Jersey Businessman of the Year.

On May 16, 2001, Eisenberg received an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree fromMonmouth Universityin Monmouth, New Jersey. On May 5, 2002, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from theRabbinical College of America.

On 2018 Eisenberg received thePremio Simpatiain Rome.

Non-profit work

Eisenberg served on the advisory council ofSamuel Johnson Graduate School of ManagementatCornell University,and was a board member of St. Barnabas Health Care System and past chairman of its investment committee. He served on the board of trustees ofMonmouth Medical CenterFoundation.

External links

• Media related toLewis Eisenbergat Wikimedia Commons
• AppearancesonC-SPAN