Marc Holtzman

Early career and education

Holtzman holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Lehigh University. Holtzman served as Executive Director of Citizens for America, former President Ronald Reagan’s national issues advocacy group. In the 1980 Presidential campaign, Reagan appointed Holtzman Executive Director of his Pennsylvania campaign, the youngest person to ever run a statewide campaign in a US presidential election.

In 1989, Holtzman was nominated by President Reagan to the Peace Corps National Advisory Council.

Career

Holtzman served as Vice Chairman of Barclays Capital and as Vice Chairman ABN Amro Bank. Holtzman was co-founder and President of MeesPierson EurAmerica (a firm which was acquired by ABN Amro) and as Senior Adviser to Salomon Brothers, he lived and worked in Eastern Europe and Russia from September 1989 until October 1998.

From 2003 through 2005 Holtzman was President of the University of Denver, where he was responsible for the development of the Rocky Mountain Center for Homeland Security.

Holtzman served in the Cabinet of former Governor Bill Owens as Colorado’s first Secretary of Technology. Holtzman was Chairman of Colorado’s Information Management Commission and Co-Chairman of the Governor’s Commission on Science and Technology.

On August 29, 2005, in appreciation for his contribution to the development and improvement of relations between The Russian Federation and the Republic of Tatarstan, then Prime Minister (and now President) Rustam Minnikhanov of Tatarstan awarded Holtzman the Russian Medal, In Commemoration of Millenary of Kazan.

Holtzman was appointed in January 2007 by Kazakhstan's then Prime Minister Karim Massimov to serve on the Board of Directors of Kazyna, the nation's sovereign wealth fund from 2006 to 2008. Holtzman served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the United States Space Foundation from 2004 to 2010.

Holtzman is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bank of Kigali in Rwanda, and is a member of the Board of Directors of TeleTech.

Holtzman served as a member of the Board of Directors of FTI Consulting,.

Holtzman has developed relationships with a wide range of leading governmental and political leaders around the world. Former Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski asked Holtzman to co-found and serve as a member of the Board of Directors of "Poland for Europe", a non-partisan, non-profit group which was instrumental in promoting Poland’s early entry into the European Union. On January 24, 1999, President Kwasniewski presented Holtzman with The Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit - Poland’s highest civilian honor for his service to the country.

Lecturer

Holtzman is recognized as a leading authority on economic and political developments in Eastern Europe and Russia. As a frequent guest lecturer, Holtzman has advocated the process of continued market reforms and democratization before audiences including the World Economic Forum and Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and has appeared as a guest on CNN, ABC News, Sky News, the British Broadcasting Corporation’s BBC World and CNBC among others.

Philanthropy

Holtzman was co-founder of the Denver School for Science and Technology, a charter high school in Colorado. Holtzman was instrumental in persuading The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to make the initial seed contribution and led the effort to fund the school.

Holtzman and his wife Kristen work with the Point Foundation, a UK-based charity which supports Rwandan orphans and is a longtime supporter and former Trustee of the Colorado Animal Rescue Shelter. Holtzman also serves as a National Trustee of National Jewish Health, a respiratory hospital in Denver.

Personal

Holtzman and his wife Kristen reside in Hong Kong with their two daughters and son.