Howard Lutnick

Howard W. Lutnick is a prominent Jewish-American businessman, best known as the Chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P., a leading financial services firm. He is also the Chairman and CEO of BGC Group, Inc., a global brokerage and financial technology company, and Chairman of Newmark Group, Inc., a commercial real estate services leader.

Lutnick was born on July 14, 1961, and graduated from Haverford College with a degree in economics. He joined Cantor Fitzgerald in 1983 and quickly rose within the company, becoming President and CEO in 1991 and Chairman in 1996. Under his leadership, Cantor Fitzgerald expanded and adapted, most notably separating its voice brokerage business in 2004 to create BGC Partners. In 2008, Lutnick led the merger of BGC with eSpeed, further solidifying BGC’s position in the financial technology sector. His leadership continued with acquiring Newmark in 2011, a company that became an independent entity through an IPO in 2017 and a spin-off in 2018.

Lutnick’s career is deeply marked by the tragic events of September 11, 2001, when Cantor Fitzgerald’s headquarters in the World Trade Center was destroyed in the terrorist attacks. Lutnick lost his brother, Gary, and hundreds of employees that day. In response, he established The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund, which raised $180 million over five years for the victims’ families and continues to provide aid for those impacted by disasters and terrorism.

As a registered Republican, Lutnick has supported various political causes, including having strong ties with the Trump administration. In 2024, he co-chaired President Trump’s transition team. Lutnick’s financial insight and support for Trump’s economic policies, including tariffs on imports, have positioned him as a critical figure in the economic and political landscape. On November 19, 2024, President-elect Trump nominated Lutnick as Secretary of Commerce in.

As a Jewish businessman, Lutnick has maintained strong ties to the Jewish community and Israel. His support for Israeli causes and organizations, including United Hatzalah and Birthright Israel, has been a consistent feature of his philanthropic work. In October 2024, Lutnick accompanied Trump to the grave of the late spiritual leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, underscoring his commitment to Jewish heritage. 

Lutnick has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including The Financial Times’ Person of the Year in 2001 and Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 2010. He has served on several boards, including those of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, Weill Cornell Medicine, and the Horace Mann School.

Sources: “Howard W. Lutnick,” Cantor.
“Howard W. Lutnick,” BGC.
“Trump to Pick Howard Lutnick as Commerce Secretary,” Washington Post, (November 19, 2024). 
“Trump expected to tap Jewish financier Howard Lutnick as commerce secretary,” JTA, (November 19, 2024). 
“Who are the Jews in Trump’s inner circle and how will they affect his second term?” Times of Israel, (November 19, 2024). 
“Trump picks Lutnick to be Commerce secretary,” CNN, (November 19, 2024).

Photo: Tim Green, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.