Harry Wilson (businessman)
Encyclopedia
Harry Wilson is a former investor and restructuring expert who has served in several high-level positions in the U.S. Treasury Department and on President Barack Obama
's Auto Industry Task Force
. Wilson filed for office on February 16, 2010, running unopposed for the Republican
primary for New York State Comptroller
. He ran against Thomas DiNapoli
for Comptroller in the general election on November 2, 2010. In a close fought race Wilson conceded defeat on November 3, 2010.
. Jim was a bartender, and Niki was a stay-at-home mom and later a sewing machine operator.
Wilson graduated as valedictorian from Johnstown High School
, of Johnstown, New York
. He graduated with undergraduate and MBA degrees from Harvard University
, where he was president of the Harvard Republican Club in 1991, where he was outspoken in his efforts to increase the club's appeal to women with a "big tent" approach.
and Goldman Sachs
. He later became a partner at Silver Point Capital before his retirement at the age of 36.
executive, Wilson left the business world to pursue charity work and public service at the age of 36.
Wilson served on President Barack Obama
's auto industry crisis task force.
He took the position at the age of 37 with the Treasury Department in March, 2009 at the request of Steve Rattner, the lead adviser on the auto industry crisis. Wilson lead a small group of people within the auto task force known internally as the "deals and diligence team," which did much of the analytical research that underpinned the task force's policy decisions, conducting interviews, touring auto plants and poring over financial records. Wilson testified in GM's bankruptcy court hearings in the Southern District Bankruptcy Court of New York in July, 2009, noting that the government intends to sell its shares in the bankrupt GM.
Wilson was also a one of four senior advisers for the U.S. Treasury Department under President Obama.
In 2009, Wilson was a member of Westchester County Executive-elect Rob Astorino's transition team.
Wilson has generally been disinclined to comment to news outlets, making a single exception for the Gloversville Leader Herald, his hometown newspaper, before the start of GM
bankruptcy hearings in July, 2009.
primary for New York State Comptroller
. He ran unopposed for the nomination, and ran against incumbent Thomas DiNapoli for Comptroller in the general election on November 2, 2010.
Wilson garnered the endorsement
of New York City
's three major daily newspapers - the New York Daily News
, New York Post
, and New York Times - considered a major achievement. It was the first time since 1976 that a challenger had accomplished sweeping all three endorsements.
Wilson lost in a close race on November 2, 2010, and he conceded defeat on November 3, 2010. Despite the loss, Capitol News rated his campaign the best in 2010 in all of New York state:
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's Auto Industry Task Force
Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry
The Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry is an ad hoc group of United States cabinet-level and other officials that was formed to deal with the financial bail out of automakers Chrysler Corporation and General Motors....
. Wilson filed for office on February 16, 2010, running unopposed for the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
primary for New York State Comptroller
New York State Comptroller
The New York State Comptroller is a state cabinet officer of the U.S. state of New York. The duties of the comptroller include auditing government operations and operating the state's retirement system.-History:...
. He ran against Thomas DiNapoli
Thomas DiNapoli
Thomas P. DiNapoli is the 54th Comptroller of the state of New York. He is a former state assemblyman in New York, who was appointed as New York State Comptroller on February 7, 2007. He was formerly the Chairman of the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee. DiNapoli is a Democrat from...
for Comptroller in the general election on November 2, 2010. In a close fought race Wilson conceded defeat on November 3, 2010.
Early life and education
Harry Wilson is the son of Jim and Niki Wilson. Jim was a lifelong resident of Johnstown, NY, and Niki was born and raised in central Greece before moving to Johnstown. They currently reside in Chelmsford, MassachusettsChelmsford, Massachusetts
Chelmsford is a suburban town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts in the Greater Boston area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town's population was 33,802. The Census Bureau's 2008 population estimate for the town was 34,409, ranking it 14th in population among the 54 municipalities in...
. Jim was a bartender, and Niki was a stay-at-home mom and later a sewing machine operator.
Wilson graduated as valedictorian from Johnstown High School
Johnstown High School
Johnstown High School is a high school located at 1 Sir Bills Circle, in Johnstown, New York. The school provides education in grades 9-12, and offers summer school for pupils who fail classes...
, of Johnstown, New York
Johnstown (city), New York
Johnstown is a city and the county seat of Fulton County in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2000 Census, the city had population of 8,511. Recent estimates put the figure closer to 8,100. The city was named by its founder, Sir William Johnson after his son John Johnson...
. He graduated with undergraduate and MBA degrees 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...
, where he was president of the Harvard Republican Club in 1991, where he was outspoken in his efforts to increase the club's appeal to women with a "big tent" approach.
Business career
Wilson has worked for Blackstone GroupBlackstone Group
The Blackstone Group L.P. is an American-based alternative asset management and financial services company that specializes in private equity, real estate, and credit and marketable alternative investment strategies, as well as financial advisory services, such as mergers and acquisitions ,...
and 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...
. He later became a partner at Silver Point Capital before his retirement at the age of 36.
Public career
After a career as a money managementMoney management
Money management is the process of managing money which includes investment, budgeting, banking and taxes. It is also called investment management....
executive, Wilson left the business world to pursue charity work and public service at the age of 36.
Wilson served on President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's auto industry crisis task force.
He took the position at the age of 37 with the Treasury Department in March, 2009 at the request of Steve Rattner, the lead adviser on the auto industry crisis. Wilson lead a small group of people within the auto task force known internally as the "deals and diligence team," which did much of the analytical research that underpinned the task force's policy decisions, conducting interviews, touring auto plants and poring over financial records. Wilson testified in GM's bankruptcy court hearings in the Southern District Bankruptcy Court of New York in July, 2009, noting that the government intends to sell its shares in the bankrupt GM.
Wilson was also a one of four senior advisers for the U.S. Treasury Department under President Obama.
In 2009, Wilson was a member of Westchester County Executive-elect Rob Astorino's transition team.
Wilson has generally been disinclined to comment to news outlets, making a single exception for the Gloversville Leader Herald, his hometown newspaper, before the start of GM
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
bankruptcy hearings in July, 2009.
New York State Comptroller race
In the 2010 race for New York State Comptroller, Wilson announced he was running on February 16, 2010, for the RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
primary for New York State Comptroller
New York State Comptroller
The New York State Comptroller is a state cabinet officer of the U.S. state of New York. The duties of the comptroller include auditing government operations and operating the state's retirement system.-History:...
. He ran unopposed for the nomination, and ran against incumbent Thomas DiNapoli for Comptroller in the general election on November 2, 2010.
Wilson garnered the endorsement
Endorsement
Endorsement may refer to:*Testimonial in advertising, written or spoken statement endorsing a product*Political endorsement*a form added to an insurance policy, modifying the terms...
of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's three major daily newspapers - the New York Daily News
New York Daily News
The Daily News of New York City is the fourth most widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States with a daily circulation of 605,677, as of November 1, 2011....
, New York Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
, and New York Times - considered a major achievement. It was the first time since 1976 that a challenger had accomplished sweeping all three endorsements.
Wilson lost in a close race on November 2, 2010, and he conceded defeat on November 3, 2010. Despite the loss, Capitol News rated his campaign the best in 2010 in all of New York state: