{{Short description|American businessman (born 1960)}} {{Distinguish|Edward Frost}} {{Use shortened footnotes|date=August 2025}} {{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Edward Forst | image = Edward Forst official portrait, 2025.jpg | caption = Official portrait, 2025 | office = Administrator of General Services | status = | president = Donald Trump | term_start = December 24, 2025 | term_end = | predecessor = Robin Carnahan | successor = | office1 = Acting Archivist of the United States | term_start1 = April 3, 2026 | term_end1 = | predecessor1 = Marco Rubio (acting) | successor1 = | office2 = Executive Vice President of Harvard University | president2 = Drew Gilpin Faust | term_start2 = September 1, 2008 | term_end2 = August 1, 2009 | predecessor2 = ''Position established'' | successor2 = Katherine Lapp | birth_name = Edward Codd Forst | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1960|12|11}} | birth_place = Chicago, Illinois | death_date = | death_place = | party = | spouse = {{Marriage|Susan Ryan|1993}} | education = {{Ubl|Harvard University (BA)|University of Pennsylvania (MBA)}} }} '''Edward Codd Forst''' (born December 11, 1960) is an American businessman who has served as the administrator of General Services since 2025.
Forst graduated from Harvard University with a bachelor's degree in economics in 1982, later attending the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He began working for Bankers Trust in 1982 as a managing director. In 1994, Forst joined Goldman Sachs, becoming a managing director in 1996 and a partner in 1998. In 2004, he was appointed as the company's chief administrative officer, and in 2007, he became the co-head of Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Forst temporarily left Goldman Sachs in 2008 to serve as Harvard's executive vice president.
Forst returned to Goldman Sachs in September 2009 as the firm's senior strategy officer. In February 2010, he was appointed head of Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Amid complications involving his leadership style and weeks after he did not appear at a critical meeting in Europe, Forst was removed from Goldman Sachs in December 2010. Forst began serving as Cushman & Wakefield's president and chief executive in January 2014. He led a strategy to return Cushman & Wakefield to New York City's real estate market. Forst left the company after its acquisition by DTZ in May 2015.
In July 2025, president Donald Trump nominated Forst to serve as the administrator of General Services. He appeared before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs in October. Forst was confirmed by the Senate in December and sworn in that month.
==Early life and education (1960–1988)== Edward Codd Forst{{Sfn|"Susan K. Ryan, Edward C. Forst". The New York Times}} was born on December 11,{{Sfn|Edward C Forst in the U.S., Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2}} 1960, in Chicago, Illinois.{{Sfn|Douglas|1960}} Forst was the son of Eleanore Ann Thole ({{Nee|Codd}}){{Sfn|"John P. Thole". Chicago Tribune}} and Donald S. Forst.{{Sfn|"Susan K. Ryan, Edward C. Forst". The New York Times}} His stepfather, Jack Thole,{{Sfn|"John P. Thole". Chicago Tribune}} was a chemistry teacher at St. Ignatius College Prep.{{Sfn|Harrington|2025}} The younger Forst attended St. Ignatius.{{Sfn|Harrington|2025}} He graduated ''cum laude'' from Harvard University{{Sfn|"Susan K. Ryan, Edward C. Forst". The New York Times}} in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in economics{{Sfn|"RMG Acquisition Corp. III". Securities and Exchange Commission|p=124}} and from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with a master of business administration{{Sfn|"Forst/Ryan". Syracuse Herald-Journal}} in 1988.{{Sfn|"RMG Acquisition Corp. III". Securities and Exchange Commission|p=124}}
==Career== ===Bankers Trust (1982–1994)=== Forst began working for Bankers Trust in 1982 as a managing director.{{Sfn|"RMG Acquisition Corp. III". Securities and Exchange Commission|p=124}} By 1993, he was the head of United States loan sales and trading. That year, he married Susan Kelly Ryan, a vice president at Bankers Trust.{{Sfn|"Susan K. Ryan, Edward C. Forst". The New York Times}}
===Goldman Sachs and advisorships (1994–2011)=== Forst began working for Goldman Sachs in 1994.{{Sfn|Brewster|2007}} Within four years, he became co-head of capital markets, chief of staff of the equities and fixed income instruments, currencies, and commodities divisions, and co-head of global credit businesses. Forst became a managing director in 1996. Additionally, he served as chair of the Firmwide Capital Committee.{{Sfn|"Goldman Rehires Forst as Senior Strategy Executive". The New York Times}} In October 1998, Goldman Sachs named Forst as a partner.{{Sfn|Kahn|1998}} In 2004, he was appointed as the company's chief administrative officer. Goldman Sachs moved to relocate Forst to London in February 2007 to oversee business operations in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.{{Sfn|Mollenkamp|2007}} In September, Forst was appointed co-head of Goldman Sachs Asset Management.{{Sfn|Brewster|2007}} He left Goldman Sachs in June 2008 to serve as Harvard University's first executive vice president,{{Sfn|Goldfarb|Cox|2008}} assuming the position in September.{{Sfn|Marks|2008}} Amid a financial crisis, secretary of the treasury Henry Paulson named Forst as an advisor for his {{USD|700}} billion recovery plan.{{Sfn|Politi|Guha|Kirchgaessner|2008}} Forst helped establish the Office of Financial Stability.{{Sfn|Kassenaar|Harper|2008}} He returned to Harvard in October.{{Sfn|Landler|Andrews|2008}} Forst retired in August 2009.{{Sfn|Kavoussi|Yi|2009}}
In September 2009, Goldman Sachs rehired Forst as the firm's senior strategy officer.{{Sfn|"Goldman Rehires Forst as Senior Strategy Executive". The New York Times}} He succeeded Marc Spilker as head of Goldman Sachs Asset Management in February 2010.{{Sfn|Kouwe|2010}} Forst was a sponsor for the Firmwide Black Network and the Firmwide Hispanic/Latin Network. In addition, he was a member of Goldman Sach's executive committee. According to ''The New York Times'', Forst was a "controversial figure" within Goldman Sachs as a "difficult manager" who often conflicted with employees. In November 2011, he failed to appear at a critical meeting in Europe. Weeks later, in December, Goldman Sachs announced that Forst was retiring. According to the ''Times'', the move was an ouster that was met by praise by some employees, particularly those within the firm's investment management division.{{Sfn|Craig|Lattman|2011}} After leaving Goldman Sachs, Forst was an advisor to Fenway Partners.{{Sfn|Grant|2013}}
===Cushman & Wakefield (2014–2015)=== In December 2013, Cushman & Wakefield announced that Forst would serve as the company's president and chief executive. He began his position the following month.{{Sfn|Grant|2013}} Forst's strategy involved reasserting Cushman & Wakefield in the New York City real estate market; most prominently, he led the company's acquisition of Massey Knakal in December 2014. Forst sought to leverage Massey Knakal's contacts and Cushman & Wakefield's global network.{{Sfn|Grant|2014}} By February 2015, he had led the strategic review committee examining a potential sale of the company.{{Sfn|Gelles|2015}} According to ''The Wall Street Journal'', Forst sought to find a replacement for Exor, Cushman & Wakefield's parent company, that would provide the capital necessary for expansion, rather than sell the company to a competitor.{{Sfn|Grant|2015}} In May, DTZ agreed to acquire Cushman & Wakefield; after the acquisition completed, Forst left the company.{{Sfn|de la Merced|Bray|2015}}
===Board memberships and political activities=== Forst served as the vice chairman and later chairman of the Bond Market Association beginning in 2004 and the co-chairman and later chairman of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association beginning in 2006.{{Sfn|"Goldman Rehires Forst as Senior Strategy Executive". The New York Times}} By 2011, he was a trustee of Carnegie Hall and held several positions within Harvard University, including serving as co-chair of the university's Taskforce on Balanced Philanthropy and its 30th Reunion campaign, in addition to being a board member of Harvard's Stem Cell Science Advisory Board.{{Sfn|Craig|Lattman|2011}} As treasurer of Carnegie Hall, Forst was responsible for ousting Ronald Perelman, its chairman, in a private dispute.{{Sfn|Zuckerman|Smith|2015}}
In June 2013, Forst attended a summit in Utah hosted by Mitt Romney, who outlined his political future.{{Sfn|King Jr.|2013}} He met with Romney again in January 2015 at an event in which Romney stated he was considering running for president in the 2016 election.{{Sfn|O'Connor|Reinhard|2015}}
==Administrator of the General Services Administration== On July 31, 2025, president Donald Trump nominated Forst to serve as the administrator of the General Services Administration.{{Sfn|Nazzaro|2025a}} He appeared before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on October 23, arguing that the General Services Administration is central to Trump's government efficiency agenda.{{Sfn|Heckman|2025}} Forst was confirmed by the Senate on December 18, in a bloc of nominees before the Senate adjourned.{{Sfn|Nazzaro|2025b}} He was sworn in on Christmas Eve in Indian River Shores, Florida, while serving jury duty, by its mayor, Brian Foley.{{Sfn|Konkel|2025}} In April 2026, Forst was named as the acting archivist of the United States.{{Sfn|Sneed|2026}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Works cited== ===Articles=== <!-- NOTE: PLEASE START YOUR REFERENCE WITH THE LAST NAME OF THE AUTHOR(S) SO THAT ANY NEW REFERENCES CAN BE EASILY INSERTED IN ORDER OF LAST NAME, ALPHABETICALLY. IF NO AUTHOR, THEN PUT TITLE FIRST, ALPHABETICALLY WITH LAST NAME. THANK YOU --> {{Refbegin|30em|indent=yes}} * {{Cite web |last=Brewster |first=Deborah |url=https://www.ft.com/content/2cc962a2-6c6a-11dc-a0cf-0000779fd2ac |title=Forst to co-head Goldman Sachs division |date=September 26, 2007 |work=Financial Times |access-date=August 2, 2025}} * {{Cite web |last1=Craig |first1=Susanne |last2=Lattman |first2=Peter |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/12/02/top-goldman-sachs-executive-departs/ |title=High-Level Goldman Executive Is Leaving the Firm |date=December 2, 2011 |author-link1=Susanne Craig |work=The New York Times |access-date=August 2, 2025}} * {{Cite web |last1=de la Merced |first1=Michael |last2=Bray |first2=Chad |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/12/business/dealbook/cushman-wakefield-exor-dtz.html |title=DTZ Agrees to Buy Cushman & Wakefield for $2 Billion |date=May 11, 2015 |work=The New York Times |access-date=August 2, 2025}} * {{Cite news |last=Douglas |first=Helen |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/jg-tc-journal-gazette-and-times-courier/178037641/ |title=Chit Chat |date=December 31, 1960 |work=Journal Gazette and Times-Courier |access-date=August 2, 2025}} * {{Cite news |title=Forst/Ryan |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/syracuse-herald-journal-forstryan/178038483/ |date=December 19, 1993 |work=Syracuse Herald-Journal |access-date=August 2, 2025 |ref={{Harvid|"Forst/Ryan". Syracuse Herald-Journal}}}} * {{Cite web |last=Gelles |first=David |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/26/business/dealbook/cushman-wakefield-is-up-for-sale.html |title=Cushman & Wakefield Is Said to Be Up for Sale |date=February 25, 2015 |author-link=David Gelles |work=The New York Times |access-date=August 2, 2025}} * {{Cite web |last1=Goldfarb |first1=Jeffrey |last2=Cox |first2=Rob |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB121392872218591091 |title=In Lawsuit, UBS Runs Risk |date=June 20, 2008 |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=August 2, 2025}} * {{Cite web |title=Goldman Rehires Forst as Senior Strategy Executive |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/dealbook.nytimes.com/2009/08/31/goldman-rehires-forst-as-senior-strategy-executive/ |date=August 31, 2009 |work=The New York Times |access-date=August 2, 2025 |ref={{Harvid|"Goldman Rehires Forst as Senior Strategy Executive". The New York Times}}}} * {{Cite web |last=Grant |first=Peter |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304858104579262152264550962 |title=Cushman & Wakefield Names Edward Forst Chief Executive |date=December 16, 2013 |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=August 2, 2025}} * {{Cite web |last=Grant |first=Peter |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/cushmans-deal-for-midlevel-sales-dominance-1419212105 |title=Cushman's Deal for Midlevel Sales Dominance |date=December 21, 2014 |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=August 2, 2025}} * {{Cite web |last=Grant |first=Peter |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/tpg-backed-dtz-to-acquire-cushman-wakefield-1431317451 |title=TPG-Backed DTZ to Acquire Cushman & Wakefield |date=May 11, 2015 |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=August 2, 2025}} * {{Cite web |last=Harrington |first=Adam |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/jack-thole-chemistry-teacher-saint-ignatius-college-prep-obit/ |title=John "Jack" Thole, renowned chemistry teacher at Chicago's Saint Ignatius College Prep, dies at 89 |date=May 1, 2025 |publisher=CBS News |access-date=August 2, 2025}} * {{Cite web |last=Heckman |first=Jory |url=https://federalnewsnetwork.com/leasing-property-management/2025/10/trumps-pick-to-lead-gsa-vows-to-address-delinquent-condition-of-federal-buildings/ |title=Trump's pick to lead GSA vows to address 'delinquent' condition of federal buildings |date=October 23, 2025 |publisher=Federal News Network |access-date=October 28, 2025}} * {{Cite web |title=John P. Thole |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/obituaries/john-p-thole-chicago-il/ |date=April 20, 2025 |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=August 2, 2025 |ref={{Harvid|"John P. Thole". Chicago Tribune}}}} * {{Cite web |last=Kahn |first=Joseph |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/21/business/with-stock-issue-ahead-goldman-sachs-names-57-as-partners.html |title=With Stock Issue Ahead, Goldman, Sachs Names 57 as Partners |date=October 21, 1998 |author-link=Joseph Kahn (journalist) |work=The New York Times |access-date=August 2, 2025}} * {{Cite web |last1=Kassenaar |first1=Lisa |last2=Harper |first2=Christine |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2008-10-21/goldman-sachs-paydays-suffer-on-lost-leverage-with-fed-scrutiny |title=Goldman Sachs Paydays Suffer on Lost Leverage With Fed Scrutiny |date=October 20, 2008 |author-link2=Christine Harper |publisher=Bloomberg News |access-date=August 2, 2025}} * {{Cite web |last1=Kavoussi |first1=Bonnie |last2=Yi |first2=Esther |url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2009/7/3/fas-finance-dean-to-depart-after/ |title=FAS Finance Dean To Depart After Less Than A Year |date=July 3, 2009 |work=The Harvard Crimson |access-date=December 24, 2025}} * {{Cite web |last=King Jr. |first=Neil |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324682204578515422189492536 |title=Romney Planning to Rejoin National Dialogue |date=May 20, 2013 |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=August 2, 2025}} * {{Cite web |last=Konkel |first=Frank |url=https://www.nextgov.com/people/2025/12/ed-forst-sworn-gsa-administrator/410391/ |title=Ed Forst sworn in as GSA administrator |date=December 24, 2025 |work=NextGov |access-date=December 25, 2025}} * {{Cite web |last=Kouwe |first=Zachery |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/13/business/13goldman.html |title=Goldman Picks New Leader in Asset Management Unit |date=February 12, 2010 |author-link=Zachery Kouwe |work=The New York Times |access-date=August 2, 2025}} * {{Cite web |last1=Landler |first1=Mark |last2=Andrews |first2=Edmund |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/04/business/economy/04plan.html |title=For Treasury Dept., Now Comes Hard Part of Bailout |date=October 3, 2008 |author-link1=Mark Landler |author-link2=Edmund L. Andrews |work=The New York Times |access-date=August 2, 2025}} * {{Cite web |last=Marks |first=Clifford |url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2008/6/18/harvard-appoints-goldman-sachs-official-as/ |title=Harvard Appoints Goldman Sachs Official as Executive Vice President |date=June 18, 2008 |work=The Harvard Crimson |access-date=December 24, 2025}} * {{Cite web |last=Mollenkamp |first=Carrick |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB117107953521904614 |title=Goldman Transfer Adds to Evidence Street Is Losing Ground to London |date=February 10, 2007 |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=August 2, 2025}} * {{Cite web |last=Nazzaro |first=Miranda |url=https://fedscoop.com/robert-forst-private-equity-gsa-administrator-doge/ |title=Trump nominates former private equity executive Edward Forst as GSA administrator |date=August 1, 2025 |work=FedScoop |access-date=August 2, 2025 |ref={{Harvid|Nazzaro|2025a}}}} * {{Cite web |last=Nazzaro |first=Miranda |url=https://fedscoop.com/senate-confirms-edward-forst-as-next-gsa-administrator/ |title=Senate confirms Edward Forst as next GSA administrator |date=December 19, 2025 |work=FedScoop |access-date=December 19, 2025 |ref={{Harvid|Nazzaro|2025b}}}} * {{Cite web |last1=O'Connor |first1=Patrick |last2=Reinhard |first2=Beth |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/romney-tells-donors-he-is-considering-2016-white-house-bid-1420839312 |title=Romney Tells Donors He Is Considering 2016 White House Bid |date=January 9, 2015 |author-link2=Beth Reinhard |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=August 2, 2025}} * {{Cite web |last1=Politi |first1=James |last2=Guha |first2=Krishna |last3=Kirchgaessner |first3=Stephanie |url=https://www.ft.com/content/ded7afa8-8bf4-11dd-8a4c-0000779fd18c |title=Paulson taps Forst as adviser on plan |date=September 26, 2008 |work=Financial Times |access-date=August 2, 2025}} * {{Cite web |last=Sneed |first=Tierney |url=https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/03/politics/trump-presidential-records-act-watergate |title=Trump's DOJ tells Trump he can hold onto government docs when he leaves office, contrary to Watergate-era law |date=April 3, 2026 |publisher=CNN |access-date=May 30, 2026}} * {{Cite web |title=Susan K. Ryan, Edward C. Forst |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/05/style/weddings-susan-k-ryan-edward-c-forst.html |date=December 5, 1993 |work=The New York Times |access-date=August 2, 2025 |ref={{Harvid|"Susan K. Ryan, Edward C. Forst". The New York Times}}}} * {{Cite web |last1=Zuckerman |first1=Gregory |last2=Smith |first2=Jennifer |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/financier-accuses-carnegie-hall-board-of-poor-oversight-1442437620 |title=Discord Breaks Out at Carnegie Hall |date=September 16, 2015 |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=August 2, 2025}} {{Refend}}
===Documents=== <!-- NOTE: PLEASE START YOUR REFERENCE WITH THE LAST NAME OF THE AUTHOR(S) SO THAT ANY NEW REFERENCES CAN BE EASILY INSERTED IN ORDER OF LAST NAME, ALPHABETICALLY. IF NO AUTHOR, THEN PUT TITLE FIRST, ALPHABETICALLY WITH LAST NAME. THANK YOU --> {{Refbegin|30em|indent=yes}} * {{Cite document |title=Edward C Forst in the U.S., Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2 |publisher=Public Records Index |ref={{Harvid|Edward C Forst in the U.S., Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2}}}} * {{Cite document |title=RMG Acquisition Corp. III |publisher=Securities and Exchange Commission |ref={{Harvid|"RMG Acquisition Corp. III". Securities and Exchange Commission}}}} {{Refend}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Forst, Edward}} Category:Living people Category:Administrators of the General Services Administration Category:Harvard College alumni Category:Goldman Sachs people Category:Wharton School alumni Category:Second Trump administration personnel Category:1960 births Category:People from Vero Beach, Florida Category:Businesspeople from Chicago