Matthew T. McGuire is Assistant to the Secretary and Director of the Office of Business Liaison at the Department of Commerce. In this position, he leads the department’s efforts to engage the business community on the Obama Administration’s top policy priorities. His office promotes progressive business policies that help America’s businesses and entrepreneurs here in the United States and it works to strengthen the international economic position of the United States and facilitates global trade by advocating for American businesses.
Prior to joining the Commerce Department, McGuire worked as a senior executive in the financial services industry for more than eight years. He was most recently at Citadel, LLC, a leading global financial institution with over $11 billion in its hedge funds and with offices in the United States, Europe, and Asia. He was responsible for continual engagement with key investors such as corporate and public pension plans, endowments and foundations, and insurance companies.
Previously, McGuire worked as an investment officer at New York State’s Common Retirement Fund. There he was responsible for investor affairs and corporate governance activities for this $110 billion public pension fund. McGuire participated in the development of audit reform and listing standards for the New York Stock Exchange’s Corporate Accountability and Listing Standards Committee; and he assisted with the development and adoption of Investor Protection Principles for broker/dealers and asset managers doing business with public pension funds.
Earlier in his career, McGuire worked in the non-profit arena, directing job training and workforce development programs in the United States and the United Kingdom, and leading a team that designed and initiated implementation of a Community and Supportive Services Plan for the redevelopment of a public housing complex in Chicago.
In addition to his professional success, McGuire has been active with nonprofit and civic organizations throughout his career, working on a range of public policy issues across the country and around the world. He has served as Chairman of the Board of Public/Private Ventures, and was a board member of Chicago Public Radio, the Golden Apple Foundation and PeacePlayers International. He earned a Ph.D. from Harvard University, a B.A. from Brown University and a Certificate of Religious Studies from the University of London. He is married to Michelle Mance McGuire, and has two young daughters, Alexandra and Charlotte.
