David Komansky

David Herman Komansky (April 27, 1939 – September 27, 2021) was the former chairman and chief executive officer of Merrill Lynch & Company.

Early life and education
Komansky was born in Mount Vernon, New York, on April 27, 1939, and grew up in a family of Russian Jewish immigrants and Irish Catholics.

He served in the U.S. Coast Guard, and then attended the University of Miami School of Business at the University of Miami in 1965.

Career
In 1968, Komansky joined Merrill Lynch as a broker. He became a regional director in 1981 and an executive vice president in 1990. Komansky served as a director and chief executive officer of Merrill Lynch from December 1996 to December 2002, and as a director, president and chief operating officer of the firm from January 1995 to December 1996. Komansky retired as chairman from Merrill Lynch in July 2003.

He served as a director of BlackRock and as a member of the international advisory board of the British American Business Council. He was also a member of the board of directors of London-based WPP plc, a business conglomerate. In 2001, he was appointed to the board of trustees of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City.

Philanthropy
In July 2005, Komansky established the Phyllis and David Komansky Center for Children's Health at Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City to make medical care more accessible, advanced, and supportive of the needs of young patients and their families.

Personal life
He was married and had two daughters, Jennifer and Elyssa.

Death
He died on September 27, 2021, in New York City, at age 82.