Dambisa Moyo to Chair Economic Club, Signaling New Era for Global Discourse

NEW YORK, NY – June 24, 2026 – The Economic Club of New York (ECNY), a century-old institution known for hosting the world’s most influential leaders, has named global economist Dr. Dambisa Moyo as the new Chair of its Board of Trustees. The appointment signals a strategic move to place a leader with deeply integrated experience across corporate governance, global finance, and public policy at the helm of one of America’s most prestigious non-partisan forums.

Dr. Moyo, a member of the United Kingdom's House of Lords and a prolific author, steps into a role that has been a linchpin in shaping economic dialogue for over 100 years. Her selection is a clear indicator of the ECNY's commitment to navigating the complex, interconnected challenges of the 21st-century economy. In her own words, she intends to build on the legacy of her predecessors by spotlighting the most critical trends shaping the world today.

"I am honored to assume the role of Chair of The Economic Club of New York and build on more than a century of great work of my predecessors," Dr. Moyo stated. "I look forward to working with the executive team to spotlight the most pressing trends shaping the world economy today, including: AI and technology, shifting geopolitics, the energy transition, and the future of global financial markets."

This appointment is more than a change in leadership; it represents an operational innovation for the Club itself, bringing in a chair whose career is a masterclass in bridging the theoretical with the practical.

A Multifaceted Leader for Complex Times

Dr. Moyo’s background is uniquely suited to the demands of guiding a forum like the ECNY. Her influence extends far beyond the realm of pure economics into the boardrooms of some of the world's most significant corporations. She serves on the boards of The Chevron Corporation, where she grapples with the realities of the energy sector; Starbucks Coffee Company, a global retail giant navigating consumer trends and supply chains; media powerhouse Condé Nast; the 3M Company; and the National Geographic Society. This diverse portfolio provides her with a rare, cross-sectoral view of the global economy in action.

Further burnishing her credentials is her role on the investment committee of the Oxford University Endowment and as co-principal of Versaca Investments, a family office focused on global growth investing. This hands-on experience in capital allocation grounds her macroeconomic theories in the realities of market performance and risk.

Academically, Moyo is a formidable force. She is the author of five best-selling books, four of which—Dead Aid, How the West Was Lost, Winner Take All, and Edge of Chaos—achieved New York Times bestseller status. Her work is known for its incisive, often contrarian, analysis of global development, resource competition, and the challenges facing Western economies. Her fifth book, How Boards Work, a Wall Street Journal bestseller, offers an insider's look at corporate governance, a topic of increasing importance in a volatile world. Her ability to translate complex economic concepts for a broad audience has earned her a spot on Time Magazine's list of the "100 Most Influential People in the World."

A Vision for the 21st Century Forum

Dr. Moyo’s stated priorities—AI, geopolitics, energy, and finance—are not just buzzwords; they represent the foundational pillars of the new global landscape. Her intent to focus the ECNY's formidable platform on these issues comes at a critical juncture.

Artificial Intelligence and technology are no longer niche topics. Projections from PwC suggest AI could add a staggering $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, yet this revolution carries immense societal implications. The IMF estimates that up to 60% of jobs in advanced economies could be affected by AI, creating a dual challenge of harnessing productivity gains while managing widespread labor market disruption. Under Moyo's leadership, the ECNY is positioned to host vital discussions on navigating this transition responsibly.

Her focus on shifting geopolitics acknowledges the end of the post-Cold War era of hyper-globalization. The world is now defined by great power competition, economic nationalism, and fragmented supply chains. For business leaders and investors, geopolitical risk has moved from a peripheral concern to a central variable in strategic planning. The ECNY provides a crucial non-partisan space to dissect these tensions and explore pathways to maintain economic stability in a more fractured world.

The energy transition is perhaps the most complex challenge of all, a delicate balance between climate imperatives, energy security, and economic growth. Despite record investment in renewables, geopolitical conflicts and surging demand have highlighted the fragility of the global energy system. Moyo's experience on the board of Chevron gives her a pragmatic perspective on the immense operational and financial hurdles involved in decarbonization, ensuring the ECNY's discussions on the topic will be grounded in reality.

Finally, the future of global financial markets is being reshaped by what the World Economic Forum calls the "Five D's": deglobalization, decarbonization, demographics, debt, and digitalization. Innovations like asset tokenization and alternative payment systems are challenging the dominance of traditional financial infrastructure, while geopolitical uncertainty promises greater market volatility. Dr. Moyo's expertise is critical for leading conversations that can help leaders prepare for this new financial architecture.

Building on a Century of Influence

Since its founding in 1907, The Economic Club of New York has been more than a lecture series; it has been a stage for history. Its podium has been graced by U.S. Presidents from Woodrow Wilson to Donald J. Trump, and international figures like Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher, and Mikhail Gorbachev. Its influence has been felt during moments of crisis and transformation, from the Great Depression to the 2008 financial meltdown.

Dr. Moyo inherits this powerful legacy, following a line of distinguished chairs including former U.S. Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Glenn Hubbard and current New York Fed President John C. Williams. Her immediate predecessor on the Board, Robert K. Steel, brought his own extensive experience from Goldman Sachs and public service as New York City's Deputy Mayor for Economic Development.

The Club has already demonstrated a commitment to evolving with the times. Recent initiatives include "The Forum" podcast, hosted by CNBC's Becky Quick; an Innovation and Social Impact Challenge focusing on AI and climate change; and a robust series of discussions on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Dr. Moyo’s appointment is not a hard pivot but an acceleration of this forward-looking trajectory.

By selecting a leader with a truly global and multi-disciplinary perspective, the Economic Club of New York is reinforcing its relevance. Dr. Moyo is not just an economist or a board member or a public intellectual; she is all of them, and it is this synthesis of experience that makes her the ideal leader to guide the Club's discourse as it confronts the defining challenges of the coming decade.