# Alex Friedman

> Alex Friedman is the New York-based co-founder and co-CEO of Novata, which helps private-market investors and companies manage sustainability data. Previously CFO of the Gates Foundation, global chief investment officer of UBS and CEO of GAM, he also co-founded Jackson Hole Economics, serves on the Franklin Templeton board and writes children’s books.

- **Role:** Co-founder and Co-CEO at Novata
- **Organizations:** Novata, Jackson Hole Economics, Franklin Templeton, Council on Foreign Relations, Gates Foundation (former), UBS (former), GAM Holding (former), Lazard (former)
- **Education:** BA, Princeton University, JD; Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, Columbia Law School, MBA, Columbia Business School
- **Known for:** Created the Gates Foundation’s strategic investment fund., Co-founded Novata as a public benefit corporation., Co-founded Jackson Hole Economics.

## Career timeline

- **1990s** — Served as a White House Fellow and an assistant to the Secretary of Defense during the Clinton administration.
- **2001-2007** — Director in investment banking at Lazard.
- **2007-2010** — CFO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; established its strategic investment fund.
- **2010-2014** — Global CIO of UBS Wealth Management and Wealth Management Americas.
- **2014-2018** — CEO of GAM Holding; stepped down on November 6, 2018.
- **2019** — Co-founded Jackson Hole Economics.
- **2021** — Co-founded Novata; joined the Franklin Resources board.
- **2026** — Identified alongside Josh Green as Novata co-CEO in its fifth-anniversary podcast.

## Achievements

- Created the Gates Foundation’s strategic investment fund.
- Co-founded Novata as a public benefit corporation.
- Co-founded Jackson Hole Economics.
- Authored Babu’s Bindi and co-authored The Big Thing: Brave Bea.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — Appeared with co-founder and co-CEO Josh Green on Novata’s fifth-anniversary Sustainable Intelligence episode, published July 15.
- **2026-01** — Discussed private-company data and supply-chain risk on All Things Sustainable, published January 23.
- **2025-07** — Novata announced a Microsoft collaboration to broaden SME access and develop AI tools for sustainability reporting.

## Links

- Website: https://www.novata.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderfriedman1/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/alex-friedman
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-16