Frank Zarb is a distinguished American businessman and former public official renowned for his significant contributions to both government and the private sector. After earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1957 and an MBA in 1962 from Hofstra University, Zarb embarked on a career that spanned various high-profile roles. In the early 1970s, he served under Presidents Nixon and Ford, notably as Assistant Secretary of Labor and Associate Director of the Office of Management and Budget. During the 1970s energy crisis, President Gerald Ford appointed him as the nation’s “energy czar,” where he led the Federal Energy Administration and the Energy Resources Council, playing a pivotal role in managing the country’s energy policies during a critical period.
Transitioning to the private sector, Zarb held several influential positions, including senior partner at Lazard Frères & Co., chairman and CEO of Smith Barney, and vice chairman of The Travelers Inc. He later became chairman and CEO of the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) and head of the NASDAQ stock exchange during the late 1990s, a period marked by significant growth and innovation in the financial markets. In 2005, amid corporate restructuring, he briefly served as non-executive chairman of American International Group (AIG). Beyond his corporate endeavors, Zarb has remained active in academia and public service, serving as an executive in residence at Columbia Business School and as a trustee of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation. His enduring legacy is also commemorated at Hofstra University, where the business school bears his name in recognition of his substantial contributions