Susan Wagner

Susan Wagner
Born	Susan Lynne Wagner (1961-05-26) May 26, 1961 (age 63)[1] Chicago, Illinois, US
Alma mater	Wellesley College University of Chicago
Known for	Co-founding BlackRock
Board member of	BlackRock Color Health Samsara

Susan Lynne Wagner (born 1961)^[2] is an American financial executive. Wagner is one of the co-founders of BlackRock, an American multinational investment management corporation, where she was vice chairman and chief operating officer. BlackRock is the largest asset management firm in the world with $10.01 trillion in assets under management as of January 2024.^[3]

In 2011, she was named to two lists of powerful women: "Most Powerful Women in New York 2011" and "50 Most Powerful Women in Business (2011)".^[4][5]

Early life and education

Wagner was born in 1961 in Chicago to a Jewish family.^[6] She graduated in 1982 with honors from Wellesley College with a BA in English and Economics, and then earned an MBA in finance from the University of Chicago in 1984.^[7]

Career

After earning her MBA, Wagner worked as vice president of the mortgage finance group for Lehman Brothers.^[8] In 1988, Wagner and Ralph Schlosstein left Lehman to join Blackstone Financial Group. Later, Blackstone Financial Group changed their name to BlackRock.

As one of the co-founders of BlackRock in 1988, Wagner was vice chairman and chief operating officer.^[9] She orchestrated BlackRock's mergers and acquisitions, which included Quellos, Merrill Lynch Investment Management, and Barclays Global Investors. Prior to retiring from BlackRock in 2012,^[10] Wagner expanded the company into Asia, the Middle East and Brazil.^[11] Since retiring from BlackRock, she is on their board of directors, and a member of the board of trustees of the Hackley School.^[12]

In May 2014, Wagner was asked by Wellesley's class of 2014 to deliver the commencement address.^[13]

In July 2014, Wagner was named to the board of Apple Inc., replacing long-time board member William Campbell.^[14] Wagner was the second woman on the Apple eight-member board and the only director with a background in finance.^[15] In 2014, she also was elected to the board of directors of Swiss Re.^[2]

Awards

In 2023, Wagner received the Women's Entrepreneurship Day Finance Pioneer Award^[16] at the United Nations in recognition as a trailblazer and innovators in their field and who inspire all around them to use their lives to make a meaningful impact on the world.

References

1. "Susan Lynne Wagner director information. Free company director check".
2. "Susan L. Wagner - Swiss Re Annual Report 2016". reports.swissre.com. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
3. Randall, David, Reggiori-Wilkes, Tommy, Singh Shekhawat, Jaiveer. "BlackRock strikes $12.5 bln deal for Global Infrastructure Partners". Reuters. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
4. Wagner, Susan (2011). "Most Powerful Women in New York 2011". Crain’s New York Business. Retrieved 2014-10-15.
5. Wagner, Sue (2011-10-17). "50 Most Powerful Women In Business". Fortune. Retrieved 2014-10-15.
6. "Susan Wagner Story - Bio, Facts, Networth, Home, Family, Auto | Famous Businesswomen | SuccessStory".
7. "Susan Wagner to Deliver 2014 Commencement Address at Wellesley". Wellesley College. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
8. "Susan Wagner". Forbes. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
9. "In the eye of the credit storm at BlackRock". The New York Times. May 30, 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
10. "Susan L. Wagner - Swiss Re Annual Report 2016". reports.swissre.com. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
11. Wagner, Sue (2008-05-30). "In the eye of the credit storm at BlackRock". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
12. Wagner, Sue (2014). "About Hackley Trustees & Administration". Hackley School. Archived from the original on 2014-11-10. Retrieved 2014-10-15.
13. Wagner, Susan (2014-05-30). "Susan Wagner delivered the 2014 Commencement address at Wellesley College". Wellesley College. Retrieved 2014-10-15.
14. Chen, Brian X. (2014-07-17). "Apple Adds Susan Wagner of BlackRock to Board". Bits - The New York Times. Retrieved 2014-07-18.
15. Bradshaw, Tim (2014-07-17). "Apple adds BlackRock co-founder to its board". Financial Times. Retrieved 2014-07-19.
16. "Sue Wagner". Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organization. Retrieved 2024-02-01.