Philip D. Murphy
Encyclopedia
Philip D. Murphy is an American businessman and the United States Ambassador to Germany
. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 7, 2009. Murphy arrived with his family in Berlin
on August 21, 2009.
Murphy graduated from Harvard University
in 1979 with an A.B. in Economics and received an M.B.A. in 1983 from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Tammy, have four children, Josh, Emma, Charlie and Sam. Murphy and his family own a large waterfront estate in Middletown, New Jersey that he and his wife purchased for $5.95 million in 1998.
From 1993-1997, Murphy headed Goldman Sachs
’ Frankfurt office, where he had oversight responsibility for activities in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, as well as in the then-emerging nations of Central Europe. From 1997-1999, Murphy served as the President of Goldman Sachs (Asia). In all, he spent 23 years at Goldman Sachs and held a variety of top-level positions before becoming a Senior Director of the firm in 2003, a position he held until his retirement in 2006.
After leaving Goldman Sachs, Murphy served from 2006-2009 as the National Finance Chair of the Democratic National Committee
.
Murphy has devoted substantial time over the years to civic, community and philanthropic affairs. He has served on boards and/or committees of the NAACP, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, the Center for American Progress
, 180 Turning Lives Around and several programs of the University of Pennsylvania
, among other entities. Additionally, Murphy co-chaired a national task force on 21st century public education and chaired a task force on public sector employee benefits in his home State of New Jersey
.
Murphy has served on the boards of the U.S. Soccer Foundation
and the U.S. Soccer Federation World Cup Bid Committee. He owns a stake in the professional New Jersey women’s soccer club Sky Blue FC
.
The United States diplomatic cables
published by Wiki Leaks contained negative statements signed by the ambassador about senior German politicians, including Chancellor Angela Merkel
and Guido Westerwelle
, the German foreign minister.
United States Ambassador to Germany
The United States has had diplomatic relations with the nation of Germany and its predecessor nation, the Kingdom of Prussia, since 1835. These relations were broken twice while Germany and the United States were at war...
. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 7, 2009. Murphy arrived with his family in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
on August 21, 2009.
Murphy graduated from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1979 with an A.B. in Economics and received an M.B.A. in 1983 from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Tammy, have four children, Josh, Emma, Charlie and Sam. Murphy and his family own a large waterfront estate in Middletown, New Jersey that he and his wife purchased for $5.95 million in 1998.
From 1993-1997, Murphy headed 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...
’ Frankfurt office, where he had oversight responsibility for activities in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, as well as in the then-emerging nations of Central Europe. From 1997-1999, Murphy served as the President of Goldman Sachs (Asia). In all, he spent 23 years at Goldman Sachs and held a variety of top-level positions before becoming a Senior Director of the firm in 2003, a position he held until his retirement in 2006.
After leaving Goldman Sachs, Murphy served from 2006-2009 as the National Finance Chair of the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
.
Murphy has devoted substantial time over the years to civic, community and philanthropic affairs. He has served on boards and/or committees of the NAACP, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, the Center for American Progress
Center for American Progress
The Center for American Progress is a progressive public policy research and advocacy organization. Its website states that the organization is "dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through progressive ideas and action." It has its headquarters in Washington D.C.Its President and Chief...
, 180 Turning Lives Around and several programs of the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, among other entities. Additionally, Murphy co-chaired a national task force on 21st century public education and chaired a task force on public sector employee benefits in his home State of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
.
Murphy has served on the boards of the U.S. Soccer Foundation
U.S. Soccer Foundation
The U.S. Soccer Foundation, established in 1994, serves as the major charitable arm of soccer in the United States. The U.S. Soccer Foundation is committed to improving the health and well-being of children in urban economically disadvantaged areas using soccer as a vehicle for social change.*...
and the U.S. Soccer Federation World Cup Bid Committee. He owns a stake in the professional New Jersey women’s soccer club Sky Blue FC
Sky Blue FC
Sky Blue FC is an American professional soccer club based in Piscataway Township, New Jersey which participates in Women's Professional Soccer....
.
The United States diplomatic cables
United States diplomatic cables leak
The United States diplomatic cables leak, widely known as Cablegate, began in February 2010 when WikiLeaks—a non-profit organization that publishes submissions from anonymous whistleblowers—began releasing classified cables that had been sent to the U.S. State Department by 274 of its consulates,...
published by Wiki Leaks contained negative statements signed by the ambassador about senior German politicians, including Chancellor Angela Merkel
Angela Merkel
Angela Dorothea Merkel is the current Chancellor of Germany . Merkel, elected to the Bundestag from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, has been the chairwoman of the Christian Democratic Union since 2000, and chairwoman of the CDU-CSU parliamentary coalition from 2002 to 2005.From 2005 to 2009 she led a...
and Guido Westerwelle
Guido Westerwelle
Guido Westerwelle [] is a German liberal politician, who, since 28 October 2009, has been serving as the Foreign Minister in the second cabinet of Chancellor Angela Merkel, and who was Vice Chancellor of Germany from 2009 to 2011. He is the first openly gay person to hold either of those positions...
, the German foreign minister.