Michael Greenwald

Director

Tiedemann Advisors

New York, NY, USA

Biography

Michael Greenwald is uniquely positioned at the intersection of geopolitics and finance. Currently, he is Director at Tiedemann Advisors, a multi-family office managing over $20 billion in assets, and Managing Director at Tiedemann-Constantia, a partner firm based in Zurich, Switzerland.

From 2015 to 2017, Michael was the US Treasury attaché to Qatar and Kuwait, serving in two presidential administrations and under three treasury secretaries, and held counterterrorism and intelligence roles requiring travel to over 20 countries. In this capacity, Michael was the principal liaison from the US Treasury to the banking sector in Qatar and Kuwait.

He was ultimately chosen to serve on the team that crafted sanctions against Russia, ISIS, and Al-Qaeda. Using his diplomacy background, he serves as a trusted advisor for Tiedemann, managing senior relationships with families and family offices globally. Given his experience with sovereign wealth funds and the private sector in the region, he leads business development in the Middle East.

Michael is a frequent speaker, writer and commentator on international security and the global economy. He is a Fellow at the Atlantic Council and the Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, where he has published over 30 articles on the future of the US dollar and the evolving global financial order. He has been featured on CNBC and given lectures at The Council on Foreign Relations, Harvard, Yale Law School and Stanford.

His philanthropic work has included: Chair of the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, Next Generation Board, and various board work in the public and private sectors. Michael earned a Juris Doctor degree from Boston University School of Law, a Master of Arts from Boston University’s Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies and a Bachelor of Arts, History from George Washington University. Originally from Brookline, Massachusetts, Michael resides in Palm Beach, FL with his wife.

Michael Greenwald’s Newsfeed

Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs

A Brush of Oversight Coming to the Art World

"As the United States continues to utilize tools of financial statecraft to limit the cash flow and economic freedoms of adversaries around the world, an age-old mechanism for concealing illicit transactions has recently received more attention: the art market. Recent restrictions placed on elites in adversarial countries have forced them to shift their capital to less traceable forms of storage and transaction."

Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs

How Should the Next President Wield the U.S. Dollar?

"In the last few years, observers have seen a variety of American sanctions imposed unilaterally across the global economy. These sanctions, while put in place to employ firm diplomatic retribution for irresponsible state actions, lose their efficacy when deployed unilaterally and with little foresight. No matter which administration takes office in 2021, they will need to have a new national security strategy for a more responsible use of the US dollar in their foreign policy. This will allow the United States to retain this tool for utilization in the long term."

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Michael Greenwald’s Background

Tiedemann Advisors

Director

2020 - Present

New York, NY, USA

Founded in 1999, Tiedemann Advisors is one of the largest independent investment and wealth advisors for high-net-worth individuals, trusts, families foundations & endowments. Michael provides geopolitical, and macroeconomic guidance to the firm and clients. Michael serves as a trusted advisor and manages senior relationships with family offices in the United States, Middle East & Europe.

Tiedemann Constantia

Managing Director

2019 - Present

Zürich, CH

Tiedemann Constantia offers a comprehensive set of wealth management services, with the security and sophistication that can only come with decades of experience. Based in Switzerland and working internationally, we devote all our talent and integrity to helping you achieve your goals.

Tiedemann Advisors

Senior Vice President

2017 - 2020

New York, NY, USA

Founded in 1999, Tiedemann Advisors is one of the largest independent investment and wealth advisors for high-net-worth individuals, trusts, families foundations & endowments.

U.S. Department of the Treasury

U.S. Treasury Attaché to Qatar & Kuwait

Jul 2015 - Jul 2017

Doha, QA

Greenwald worked in senior roles within the United States Treasury in national security positions working with Africa, Europe and serving as a financial diplomat in the Middle East spanning the tenures of U.S. Treasury Secretaries Geithner, Lew & Mnuchin. He served as the first United States Treasury Attaché appointed to Qatar & Kuwait and opened the Treasury Department’s office in Doha in 2015.

U.S. Department of the Treasury

U.S. Treasury Policy Advisor for Europe

Feb 2013 - Aug 2015

Washington, DC, USA

Michael was head of the U.S. Delegation to the Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism before the Council of Europe and traveled to over 20 countries on behalf of the Treasury. He was part of the team that crafted sanctions against Russia, marking the first time Western debt & equity markets were employed against a sovereign power.

U.S. Department of the Treasury

Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence

Aug 2010 - Feb 2013

Washington, DC, USA

He has also served in a variety of roles in the U.S. Intelligence Community and in the Office of General Council at the U.S Treasury working closely with the National Security Council at the White House working on issues related to countering ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran, Ukraine/Russia, Syria, and North Korea.

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Current Board Positions

The Trilateral Commission

Deputy Executive Director of North America

Oct 2018 - Present

Washington, DC, USA

The Trilateral Commission was formed in 1973 by private citizens of Japan, Europe and North America to foster closer cooperation among these core industrialized areas, with shared leadership responsibilities in the wider international system.

Boston University School of Law

Dean Advisory Board

Jan 2019 - Present

Boston, MA, USA

Founded in 1872, Boston University School of Law is a first class law school with a faculty recognized nationally for exceptional teaching and preeminent scholarship.

Atlantic Council

Senior Advisor to President & CEO Fred Kempe. Co-Chairman, Counsellor Program (2008)

Jan 2018 - Present

Washington, DC, USA

The Atlantic Council promotes constructive leadership & engagement in international affairs, based on the Atlantic Community's central role in meeting global challenges.

The Aspen Institute

Board Member, Vanguard Society of Fellows

May 2015 - Present

Washington, DC, USA

The Aspen Institute is an educational and policy studies organization, which aims to foster leadership, based on enduring values and to provide a non-partisan venue for dealing with critical issues.

Halo Maritime Defense Systems

Board Member

Sep 2018 - Present

Newton, MA, USA

HALO Maritime Defense Systems is a marine engineering technology company and provider of advanced engineered solutions for the security needs of strategic maritime assets. It provides floating barriers and gates, essential security to critical assets that are vulnerable to water-borne access for Government, commercial and private assets on the water.

Intercontinental Real Estate Corporation

Advisory Board

Apr 2019 - Present

Boston, MA, USA

Intercontinental Real Estate Corporation's aim is to provide institutional quality, client-mandated real estate investment management strategies, structured to protect and grow capital with risk adjusted returns.

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Philanthropy

Promise Fund of Florida

Board of Directors

Jul 2020 - Present

Palm Beach, FL, USA

The Promise Fund of Florida aims to prevent the unnecessary progression of breast and cervical cancer in order to eliminate preventable loss of life in Palm Beach County, Florida.

The Susan G. Komen Cancer Breast Cancer Foundation Inc

National Board Member, Chairman Finance Committee

May 2018 - Present

Dallas, TX, USA

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was set up by Susan's sister Nancy in honour of her death from breast cancer. They lead the way in groundbreaking research, community health intitiatives and advocacy programs.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Special Advisor on International Affairs to President & CEO Dr Laurie Glimcher

2017 - 2020

Boston, MA, USA

The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is committed to providing expert, compassionate care to children and adults with cancer, whilst advancing the understanding, treatment, cure and prevention of cancer & related diseases. Michael is special advisor to Dr. Laurie Glimcher.

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Member and Chairman Emeritus, Next Generation Board

Jan 2009 - Present

Washington, DC, USA

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum inspires citizens and leaders worldwide to confront hatred, prevent genocide and promote human dignity.

US Department of State | Public-Private Partnership for Justice Reform in Afghanistan

Delegation Leader & Executive Board Member

2010 - 2015

Washington, DC, USA

The Friends of the Public-Private Partnership for Justice Reform in Afghanistan (FPJRA) is a non-profit formed in 2009 to promote legal reform in Afghanistan.

Concordia

Member

Sep 2018 - Present

Washington, DC, USA

Concordia is a registered non-profit, non-partisan organization, dedicated to actively fostering, elevating and sustaining cross-sector partnerships for social impact.

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Media

The digital dollar: Do we need it and how do we build it?

Moderator

May 2020

Washington, DC, USA

Michael Greenwald, Director at Tiedemann Advisors and Senior Nonresident Fellow at the Atlantic Council. moderates a virtual discussion exploring the digital dollar as a potential tool in the economic battle against the coronavirus, hosted by both the Global Business & Economics Program and the GeoTech Center at the Atlantic Council.

CNBC: What leverage Iran has over the US

Interview

New York, NY, USA

Michael Greenwald, former U.S. Treasury Attaché, and CNBC’s Michelle Caruso-Cabrera join ‘The Exchange’ to discuss the U.S.-Iran relationship and what’s next for the conflict.

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Publications

Atlantic Council: The New Atlanticist Blog

Contributing Writer

Washington, DC, USA

Michael Greenwald writes on issues relating to international economics, foreign policy, and the Middle East.

Publications

Author

New York, NY, USA

Michael Greenwald has published and contributed to many articles on international security and economic affairs for the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.

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Academic Appointments

Harvard Kennedy School, Belfer Center

Fellow

May 2018 - Present

Cambridge, MA, USA

Greenwald leads seminars exploring the financial and political implications of the Dollar’s role in global capital markets. He also explores the intersection between contemporary art and geopolitics. His expertise is in illicit finance, sanctions, and the Gulf/Middle East, Asia, Europe and Africa. Click on logo for link to articles and events.

Atlantic Council

Senior Nonresident Fellow, GeoEconomics Center

Washington, DC, USA

The GeoEconomics Center is a collaborative and innovative part of the Atlantic Council. Its research focuses on energy, climate policy, national security, and technology and is organized around three pillars central to the future of the global economy and US economic leadership: the future of capitalism, the future of money, and the way forward on economic statecraft.

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Speaking Engagements

Navigating Risk in Crisis

Panel Member

Apr 2020

In this Virtual Roundtable presented by Sigma Ratings, Michael Greenwald, Director at Tiedemann Advisors and Harvard Belfer Center Fellow, joins panel members to discuss COVID-19’s impact on financial crime compliance and broader counterparty risk management considerations.

U.S.-China 2020: A Year of Living Dangerously

Event: Asia Society Policy Institute

Jan 2020

New York, NY, USA

Michael Greenwald, Director at Tiedemann Advisors & Managing Director at Tiedemann-Constantia, and former financial diplomat spanning the tenures of 3 US Treasury Secretaries, joins the Hon. Kevin Rudd for a discussion on the developments of the US-China relationship in 2019, and what we can expect from this relationship in 2020.

The Role of Sovereign Wealth Funds In Oil Economies

Panel

Jan 2019

Abu Dhabi, AE

Mark Cutis, Chief Financial Officer, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, and Michael Greenwald, Director, Tiedemann Advisors; Senior Advisor to the President and CEO, Atlantic Council, speak as part of a panel at The Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum in Abu Dhabi.

Upcoming Events

Speaker

New York, NY, USA

Click on logo to view Michael Greenwald's upcoming speaking events at Harvard Kennedy School, Belfer Center.

Speaking Engagements

Public Speaking

A frequent speaker on international security, the Middle East and illicit finance issues, Greenwald's past speaking engagements include appearances on CNBC, lectures at the Council on Foreign Relations, the Aspen Institute, the Atlantic Council, Harvard University, Yale Law School, Stanford, Columbia University, and Northwestern Business School in Doha. Click on logo for more information.

Economic Sanctions and the Private Sector

Panel

Mar 2018

Washington, DC, USA

In this discussion panel presented by the Atlantic Council, representatives from the private sector analyzed the impact of the Trump administration’s use of economic sanctions on their industries.

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