14 DAY TRIAL // Investment bank Goldman Sachs has announced that its board of directors now includes Peter Oppenheimer, Apple’s current chief financial officer. Oppenheimer is not leaving Apple as part of this new endeavor, despite rumors saying the opposite.
Goldman Sachs makes the news official on its web site, stating that “Through his positions as CFO and Controller at Apple and Divisional CFO at ADP, Mr. Oppenheimer has significant experience in the preparation and review of financial statements as well as capital and risk management.”
Lloyd C. Blankfein, chairman and CEO, couldn’t be happier about Oppenheimer joining his company’s board of trustees.
In a statement offered as confirmation that Goldman Sachs will be blessed with Oppenheimer’s knowledge, Blankfein says, “Peter’s 25 years of broad experience across important industries will add a valuable perspective to our Board of Directors.”
“We appreciate his willingness to serve as a director and look forward to benefitting from his judgment and counsel,” adds Blankfein.
Through the decision, Goldman Sachs also wants to expand its knowledge of “technology and technology risks.”
Oppenheimer is also on the board of directors at California Polytechnic State University Foundation, and at Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton, California. At Apple, Oppenheimer remains the senior vice president and Chief Financial Officer reporting to CEO Tim Cook.
Last week, Forbes contributor and Apple shareholder Chuck Jones started a rumor that Oppenheimer was getting ready to leave Apple after the company’s February 28 investor meeting.
At 51 years old, Oppenheimer continues to serve Apple extremely well, but Jones did make a good point last week when he noted that Apple seemed to be “laying the groundwork for a transition.”
He noted that Apple Corporate Controller Luca Maestri had been assigned tasks that were previously Oppenheimer’s business. Some of treasurer Gary Wipfler’s duties were also handed to Maestri, leading to beliefs that Oppenheimer was reducing his role within Apple.
“Starting with the October 2013 call Luca Maestri, Apple’s Corporate Controller, has been on the calls and for the January 2014 conference call he handled questions about operating expenses and margins,” Jones wrote.
Although Oppenheimer is still with Apple at the time of this writing, that doesn’t mean the company still isn’t doing everything in its power to prepare for his departure. After all, he will leave the company one way or another at some point.
To learn more about Oppenheimer and his role within Apple, see his executive profile page on the iPhone maker’s web site.