George Wellde, a Founder and former Goldman Sachs Executive

George Wellde is the co-founder of Cap Accel, a capital markets advisory firm. They assist clients with creating capital raising strategies, pre-capital raise due diligence reviews and ongoing advisory services related to capital raising activities.

He is also a trustee emeritus of the University of Richmond and chairperson of its investment committee. With his wife Patricia, he conducts philanthropic activities through their foundation, Kat Foundation. Recent grantees include Continuum Center for Health & Healing, Autism Speaks, Mount Sinai Pediatric AIDS Foundation and Brigham & Women’s Hospital.

Early Life and Education

George Wellde, born in Richmond, Virginia, is a graduate of the University of Richmond and holds an MBA from George Washington University.

He previously held positions at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in Washington, D.C. and Goldman Sachs in Tokyo. Currently, he serves as Head of North America Sales for Goldman Sachs’ Fixed Income business department.

He is a member of the GAVI Alliance, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and Fortress Investment Group in New York City, as well as serving on its Board of Trustees. Additionally, he was previously appointed to The George Washington University in Washington D.C.

Both he and his wife Patricia Wellde have a deep commitment to public service. Their philanthropy is channeled through the Kat Foundation, which grants out just under $1 million annually in grants.

Professional Career

Wellde was a vice chairman of Goldman Sachs’ Securities Division from 2005 until his retirement in 2008. Prior to that, he served as head of North America sales for the Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities division from 1994 until 1999.

Wellde is a board member at Fortress Investment Group in Washington, D.C. and an original founding board member of GAVI–the Vaccine Alliance. Additionally, he serves as trustee at George Washington University (GW), where he and his wife Patricia recently endowed a two-year professional fellowship to encourage careers in public service.

Wellde and his wife Patricia run the Kat Foundation, a philanthropic entity which recently awarded just under $1 million in grants. Notable recipients include The Continuum Center for Health & Healing, Autism Speaks, Mount Sinai Pediatric AIDS Foundation and Brigham & Women’s Hospital.

Achievements and Honors

He has served on the boards of several organizations, such as The George Washington University’s Board of Trustees and Goldman Sachs’ board of directors. Furthermore, he serves as a senior member on GAVI Alliance’s investment committee.

He was a founding member of both the American Music Society and Association for the Advancement of Black Musicians, earning honorary degrees from Wheaton College and Colgate University, the Presidential Medal of Honor from University of Cordoba in Spain, as well as Yale School of Music’s Distinguished Alumni Award. Additionally, he earned his doctor of musical arts degree from Yale – making him the first cellist ever to do so. Additionally, he has authored multiple books on music including one about African-American music; additionally teaching at institutions like Juilliard School of Music; University of California-San Francisco; Cleveland Institute of Music; Yale.

Personal Life

Since his retirement from Goldman Sachs, George Wellde has been an active participant in his community. He currently sits on the boards of GAVI and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, among others, and is also a trustee emeritus for his alma mater – the University of Richmond.

His philanthropy primarily supports health and education initiatives. Recent grantees include the Continuum Center for Health and Healing, Autism Speaks, Mount Sinai Hospital, and Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Wellde and Patricia Kat Foundation manager Wellde have also endowed a two-year professional fellowship program at George Washington University to encourage careers in public service.

Net Worth

George Wellde is a retired Goldman Sachs senior vice president who earned his net worth through philanthropic activities with his wife Patricia – also an ex-senior executive at Goldman. They manage the Kat Foundation, which awards grants in public service and health. Recent grantees include Autism Speaks, Mount Sinai, Continuum Center for Health & Healing, Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and Brigham & Women’s Hospital. They have also supported their alma maters, such as the University of Richmond and Randolph-Macon College, with assets totaling nearly $23 million in 2018. We can only hope that they continue investing in public service and health for many more years into the future.

George and Patricia Wellde are in their sixties, suggesting they will likely continue to pursue the interests they have always held.