Bart Friedman

Bart Friedman's Professional Overview

Bart Friedman is a seasoned professional whose career spans several decades and industries, including food and retail, biotechnology, insurance, finance, and non-governmental organizations. His diverse experience and leadership roles have made a significant impact in both the legal sector and corporate governance.

Educational Background

Bart's educational journey began at Harvard Law School, where he earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree between 1966 and 1969. Following this, he enrolled in the DBA Program at Harvard Business School from 1969 to 1970. These foundational years at prestigious institutions laid the groundwork for his future achievements.

Professional Roles

In his professional life, Bart has held numerous key positions. Currently, he serves as Chair of the Board of Giant Eagle Enterprises and as Lead Independent Director and Chair of the Board at Giant Eagle, Inc., roles he has held since 2023 and 2020, respectively. Additionally, he has been a Senior Counsel at the law firm Cahill Gordon & Reindel since 1970.

Leadership in Non-Profit Organizations

Bart's leadership extends to significant non-profit organizations. He has been a Trustee and Chair of the Audit Committee at The Brookings Institution since 1997 and a Trustee and Chair of the Compensation and HR Committee at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts since 2000. Since 2017, he has also been the Lead Director at Ovid Therapeutics. His involvement with the Council on Foreign Relations as a Membership Committee Member dates back to 1997, and he has served as Chairman Emeritus at Works and Process at the Guggenheim Museum since 2018. In 2020, he took on the role of Senior Advisor at Concordia.

Past Roles

Bart's past roles are just as impressive. He was Chair of the Board of the Sanford Bernstein Family of Mutual Funds from 2006 to 2020 and served on the Board of Directors and as Treasurer at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum from 2016 to 2019. Between 2006 and 2017, he was the Lead Director at Allied World Assurance Holdings. His involvement with educational institutions includes serving on the Visiting Committee and Capital Campaign Committee at Harvard University Graduate School of Education from 1996 to 2002, and as Vice Chair of The Juilliard School from 1990 to 2000.

Personal Life

In addition to his professional and philanthropic pursuits, Bart is a family man. He is married to Wendy A. Stein, an art historian and author. The couple has two grown sons, Benjamin, who is married to Lauren Sanchez, and Jacob, who is married to Isabel Parkes.

Conclusion

Bart Friedman’s career is a testament to his extensive service and dedication. His leadership across multiple high-profile boards, including Fortune 500 companies, educational institutions, and philanthropic organizations, showcases his expertise and commitment to making a positive impact.