Lewis M. Eisenberg
Encyclopedia
Lewis M. Eisenberg is an American business financier and investor, with entrepreneurial roots known for co-founding and heading a private equity firm, Granite Capital International Group L.P. Lewis Eisenberg has a multi-decade history in American political fundraising circles and is most notable for the various national, state, and bi-state appointments he held throughout his career, specifically as the Chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
at the time of the September 11, 2001 attack of the World Trade Center
.
in Hanover, New Hampshire from 1961 until 1964 earning a Bachelor's Degree. He then enrolled at Cornell University
in New York, New York from 1964 to 1966 and earned an MBA.
after completing his education at Cornell University
. He began working for Goldman Sachs
& Company in 1966. From 1966 until 1989 Eisenberg worked in a variety of capacities for Goldman Sachs. Eisenberg became a partner in 1978 and concluded his career as co-head of the Institutional Equity Sales 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 Communications where he also served on the board until 2007. He also served on the board of ITC, the nation's largest independent electric transmission business and a former KKR portfolio company.
Currently, Eisenberg serves as a senior advisor for Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts & Co. and has been with the KKR firm since 2009. Working alongside Co-Founders Henry Kravis
and George Roberts
, Eisenberg provides enhanced investment expertise particularly in the public infrastructure arena.
to chair the New Jersey Commission on Privatization and Competitive Contracting in 1994. He was elected Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
on November 9, 1995. Prior to his election as Chairman, Mr. Eisenberg had served since February 1994 as a Commissioner on the same agency’s Board, having been nominated by Governor Christine Todd Whitman. Through out his term as Chairman the most notable achievement was the negotiation of a long term lease with Larry Silverstein for the World Trade Center; the Towers were at their highest occupancy in history in the late 1990's and the desire to privatize the buildings was born from an economic strategy of the Pataki Administration . Eisenberg’s term as Chairman of the Port Authority ended in December, 2001. It was during his time as Chairman that the September 11, 2001 Terrorist attacked the Twin Towers, which took the lives of 84 Port Authority employees including then Executive Director Neil Levin
. Prior to the 9/11 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 Governor Donald DiFrancesco
to the Chairmanship of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority
. As referenced in New York Times articles, Eisenberg chose to stay on at the Port Authority through the days after the 9/11 attack and to provide "continued leadership" and as stated by officials at the time "to provide a comforting continuity in times of tragedy".
Soon after stepping down from the Port Authority, New York Governor George Pataki
appointed Eisenberg as a Director of the Lower 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 New York Governor George Pataki to chair the Victims’ Families and Transportation Advisory Council until April, 2003.
in 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 the Republican Leadership Council
, a political action committee based in Washington, D.C. In 2002 through 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 the 2004 Republican National Convention. In 2008 he served as John McCain
for President, National Co-Chairman, McCain Victory, National Finance Chairman, and as National Finance Chairman for McCain/Palin Victory 2008 .
Human Relations Award from the American Jewish Committee
. In 1995, he also received the Eagle Award from the New Jersey Alliance for Action. In 2000, Eisenberg was honored as the “Man of the Year” by the National Conference for Community and Justice
in New Jersey. In 2000, Monmouth University
named him as the New Jersey Businessman of the Year.
in Monmouth, NJ. On May 5, 2002, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from the Rabbinical College of America
.
, and was a board member of St. Barnabas Health Care System and past Chairman of its Investment Committee. He also served on the Board of Trustees of Monmouth Medical Center
Foundation
September 13, 2001 - "For an agency that at one time or another touches virtually everybody in the region, the human loss was "incalculable," Eisenberg said.
September 13, 2001 -"Everything will be different, but we will move forward."
December 18, 2001 - "I had thought the bookends of my time would have been things such as improved efficiency and converting assets to produce more capital for the agency's core transportation mission," Mr. Eisenberg said in an interview. "I don't like to think of it the other way."
December 18, 2001 - "PATH had always been a four-letter word for New Yorkers, and now it is the first major appropriation by the Port Authority after Sept. 11 and it is announced by a New York governor, Mr. Eisenberg said. If those combined statements by the two governors don't bespeak a quintessential regionalism, I don't know what does."
May 5, 2011 - “I think the site and the series of events are filled with emotion,” said Lewis Eisenberg, former chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and a board member of Lower Manhattan Development Corp. “I don’t know how to respond to the president’s visit, but to the extent that it gives comfort and closure to the families, I am most grateful.”
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bi-state port district, established in 1921 through an interstate compact, that runs most of the regional transportation infrastructure, including the bridges, tunnels, airports, and seaports, within the Port of New York and New Jersey...
at the time of the September 11, 2001 attack of the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
.
Early life
Eisenberg was born in Illinois and grew up in Chicago with a family that made their living in the seed processing business. Eisenberg attended Dartmouth CollegeDartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
in Hanover, New Hampshire from 1961 until 1964 earning a Bachelor's Degree. He then enrolled at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in New York, New York from 1964 to 1966 and earned an MBA.
Financial career
Eisenberg began his career on Wall StreetWall Street
Wall Street refers to the financial district of New York City, named after and centered on the eight-block-long street running from Broadway to South Street on the East River in Lower Manhattan. Over time, the term has become a metonym for the financial markets of the United States as a whole, or...
after completing his education at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
. He began working for Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is an American multinational bulge bracket investment banking and securities firm that engages in global investment banking, securities, investment management, and other financial services primarily with institutional clients...
& Company in 1966. From 1966 until 1989 Eisenberg worked in a variety of capacities for Goldman Sachs. Eisenberg became a partner in 1978 and concluded his career as co-head of the Institutional Equity Sales 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 Communications where he also served on the board until 2007. He also served on the board of ITC, the nation's largest independent electric transmission business and a former KKR portfolio company.
Currently, Eisenberg serves as a senior advisor for Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts & Co. and has been with the KKR firm since 2009. Working alongside Co-Founders Henry Kravis
Henry Kravis
Henry R. Kravis is an American businessman and private equity investor. He is the co-founder of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., a private equity firm with over $62 billion in assets as of 2011. He has an estimated net worth of $3.7 billion as of September 2011, ranked by Forbes as the 88th richest...
and George Roberts
George Roberts
George Roberts may refer to:*George Roberts , American trombonist*George Brooke Roberts , civil engineer*George E. Roberts , Director of the U.S. Mint*George Henry Roberts , British Labour MP, Minister of Labour...
, Eisenberg provides enhanced investment expertise particularly in the public infrastructure arena.
Appointments and civic service
Lewis M. Eisenberg's public service history is as follows: he was appointed by New Jersey Governor Christine Todd WhitmanChristine Todd Whitman
Christine Todd "Christie" Whitman is an American Republican politician and author who served as the 50th Governor of New Jersey from 1994 to 2001, and was the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in the administration of President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003. She was New...
to chair the New Jersey Commission on Privatization and Competitive Contracting in 1994. He was elected Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bi-state port district, established in 1921 through an interstate compact, that runs most of the regional transportation infrastructure, including the bridges, tunnels, airports, and seaports, within the Port of New York and New Jersey...
on November 9, 1995. Prior to his election as Chairman, Mr. Eisenberg had served since February 1994 as a Commissioner on the same agency’s Board, having been nominated by Governor Christine Todd Whitman. Through out his term as Chairman the most notable achievement was the negotiation of a long term lease with Larry Silverstein for the World Trade Center; the Towers were at their highest occupancy in history in the late 1990's and the desire to privatize the buildings was born from an economic strategy of the Pataki Administration . Eisenberg’s term as Chairman of the Port Authority ended in December, 2001. It was during his time as Chairman that the September 11, 2001 Terrorist attacked the Twin Towers, which took the lives of 84 Port Authority employees including then Executive Director Neil Levin
Neil Levin
Neil David Levin was a former Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. He was killed during the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.-Career:...
. Prior to the 9/11 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 Governor Donald DiFrancesco
Donald DiFrancesco
Donald Thomas DiFrancesco was the 51st Governor of New Jersey from 2001 to 2002 by virtue of his status as President of the New Jersey Senate, the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature....
to the Chairmanship of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority
New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority
The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority is an independent authority established by the State of New Jersey in 1971 to oversee the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Originally consisting of Giants Stadium and the Meadowlands Racetrack in 1976, Brendan Byrne Arena was added to the complex in...
. As referenced in New York Times articles, Eisenberg chose to stay on at the Port Authority through the days after the 9/11 attack and to provide "continued leadership" and as stated by officials at the time "to provide a comforting continuity in times of tragedy".
Soon after stepping down from the Port Authority, New York Governor George Pataki
George Pataki
George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :...
appointed Eisenberg as a Director of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation
Lower Manhattan Development Corporation
The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation was formed in July 2002, after the September 11 attacks to plan the reconstruction of Lower Manhattan and distribute nearly $10 billion in federal funds aimed at rebuilding downtown Manhattan....
’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 New York Governor George Pataki to chair the Victims’ Families and Transportation Advisory Council until April, 2003.
Politics
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 the Republican National CommitteeRepublican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
in 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 the Republican Leadership Council
Republican Leadership Council
The Republican Leadership Council , founded in 1993 as the Committee for Responsible Government, is a United States political advocacy group and political action committee that promotes Republican candidates who espouse a platform that the organization characterizes as "fiscally conservative,...
, a political action committee based in Washington, D.C. In 2002 through 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 the 2004 Republican National Convention. In 2008 he served as John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
for President, National Co-Chairman, McCain Victory, National Finance Chairman, and as National Finance Chairman for McCain/Palin Victory 2008 .
Awards and recognitions
In 1989 Eisenberg received the Herbert H. LehmanHerbert H. Lehman
Herbert Henry Lehman was a Democratic Party politician from New York. He was the 45th Governor of New York from 1933 to 1942, and represented New York in the United States Senate from 1950 to 1957.-Lehman Brothers:...
Human Relations Award from the American Jewish Committee
American Jewish Committee
The American Jewish Committee was "founded in 1906 with the aim of rallying all sections of American Jewry to defend the rights of Jews all over the world...
. In 1995, he also received the Eagle Award from the New Jersey Alliance for Action. In 2000, Eisenberg was honored as the “Man of the Year” by the National Conference for Community and Justice
National Conference for Community and Justice
The National Conference for Community and Justice is a national, human relations, non-profit organization in the United States. Its mission is to fight bias, bigotry, and racism and promote understanding and respect through advocacy, conflict resolution, and education.The NCCJ was founded in 1927...
in New Jersey. In 2000, Monmouth University
Monmouth University
Monmouth University is a private university located in West Long Branch, New Jersey, United States.Founded in 1933 as Monmouth Junior College, it became Monmouth College in 1956, and later Monmouth University in 1995 after receiving its charter....
named him as the New Jersey Businessman of the Year.
Honorary academic achievements
On May 16, 2001, Eisenberg received an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Monmouth UniversityMonmouth University
Monmouth University is a private university located in West Long Branch, New Jersey, United States.Founded in 1933 as Monmouth Junior College, it became Monmouth College in 1956, and later Monmouth University in 1995 after receiving its charter....
in Monmouth, NJ. On May 5, 2002, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from the Rabbinical College of America
Rabbinical College of America
The Rabbinical College of America is one of the largest Chabad Lubavitch Chasidic Yeshivas in the world. The Yeshiva is located in Morristown, New Jersey and has trained thousands of Rabbinic students. The Yeshiva is supported by Jewish philanthropists such as David T. Chase, and Ronald Lauder of...
.
Philanthropic and public positions
Eisenberg served on the Advisory Council of Samuel Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell UniversityCornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, and was a board member of St. Barnabas Health Care System and past Chairman of its Investment Committee. He also served on the Board of Trustees of Monmouth Medical Center
Monmouth Medical Center
Monmouth Medical Center, in Long Branch, Monmouth County, New Jersey, is one of New Jersey’s largest community academic medical centers and is an academic affiliate of Philadelphia’s Drexel University College of Medicine. It provides Post-graduate education via several medical residencies in...
Foundation
Quotes
September 12, 2001 - “I just saw my two towers fall. I'm devastated beyond belief. In many respects this is significantly worse than Pearl Harbor, and we don't know who the enemy is." — Lewis Eisenberg, chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the World Trade Center.September 13, 2001 - "For an agency that at one time or another touches virtually everybody in the region, the human loss was "incalculable," Eisenberg said.
September 13, 2001 -"Everything will be different, but we will move forward."
December 18, 2001 - "I had thought the bookends of my time would have been things such as improved efficiency and converting assets to produce more capital for the agency's core transportation mission," Mr. Eisenberg said in an interview. "I don't like to think of it the other way."
December 18, 2001 - "PATH had always been a four-letter word for New Yorkers, and now it is the first major appropriation by the Port Authority after Sept. 11 and it is announced by a New York governor, Mr. Eisenberg said. If those combined statements by the two governors don't bespeak a quintessential regionalism, I don't know what does."
May 5, 2011 - “I think the site and the series of events are filled with emotion,” said Lewis Eisenberg, former chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and a board member of Lower Manhattan Development Corp. “I don’t know how to respond to the president’s visit, but to the extent that it gives comfort and closure to the families, I am most grateful.”