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- Finance
- Health and Welfare
- Government Relations
Russ Gould delivers California Strategies' clients a comprehensive and unique background that encompasses public fiscal policy, public and private financial markets, education, the state budget and health and welfare policy. Gould's extensive experience with California's budget and financial issues is diverse and multi-faceted which often delivers winning results.
His career accomplishments include multiple cabinet positions during Governor Wilson's administration, heading the Department of Finance and the Health and Welfare Agency. Mr. Gould also served as the Deputy State Treasurer under then-State Treasurer Tom Hayes. He currently serves as Chair of the UC Board of Regents.
At every stage of his professional life in both public and private sectors, Mr. Gould has a built a reputation for effectiveness and innovation.
Mr. Gould most recently has been operating Gould Financial Consulting. As President of Gould Financial Consulting he serves as a fiscal policy advisor to executive leaders of corporations, government and not-for-profit entities on issues related to the State budget, investment and tax policy.
Mr. Gould previously served as Senior Vice President for Wachovia Bank, providing leadership in the development of the Bank's investment management and public finance services in California from 2004 through 2009. He also provided leadership as Senior Managing Director at Wachovia Portfolio Services (formerly Metropolitan West Securities), one of the five companies he developed as a partner of Metropolitan West Financial, which he joined in 1996. Upon joining MetWest Gould worked with Tom Hayes in successfully navigating the financial recovery of Orange County through its bankruptcy process. While a partner at MetWest, he also served as Executive Vice President of the J. Paul Getty Trust, responsible for investments of the Trust's $5.5 billion in assets and the annual budget, accounting and risk management programs.
Prior to joining Metropolitan West Financial, Mr. Gould served as California's Director of Finance, responsible for all financial issues for the Governor. He previously served as the state's Cabinet Secretary of the Health and Welfare Agency, responsible for the administration of 13 state departments with a budget of over $32 billion dollars and more than 42,000 employees. He also served as Assistant State Treasurer with oversight of the State's $20 billion investment portfolio.
Mr. Gould currently serves on The Irvine Company Board and the College Access Foundation of California Board. He has served as Past Chair of the Board of Directors for the California Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the Governor's Council of Economic Advisors and the Constitution Revision Commission.
Mr. Gould received his undergraduate degree from the University of California at Berkeley.