Wally Adeyemo

Wally Adeyemo, born May 20, 1981, in Ibadan, Nigeria, to Yoruba parents, was raised in Southern California. His father, a teacher, and mother, a nurse, raised him alongside two younger siblings. Adeyemo graduated from Eisenhower High School in Rialto, California, in 1999. He then earned his bachelor of arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 2004, and a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School in 2009.

Career Trajectory

Early Career

Adeyemo began his career in political outreach, serving as the director of African American outreach for John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign in California. Prior to his involvement in the Obama administration, he worked as an editor at the Hamilton Project and held several roles within the United States Department of the Treasury, including senior advisor and deputy chief of staff. Adeyemo also contributed significantly as a negotiator for the Trans-Pacific Partnership and served as the first chief of staff of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau under Elizabeth Warren.

Obama Administration

Initially nominated in November 2014 as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for International Markets, Adeyemo’s nomination was not advanced by the Senate Committee. Instead, he was appointed Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics and deputy director of the National Economic Council in 2015, serving until 2016. In this role, Adeyemo represented the U.S. President at G7 and G20 summits and played a key role in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations.

Post-Obama Era

After his tenure in the Obama administration, Adeyemo joined BlackRock as a senior advisor and served as interim chief of staff for CEO Laurence D. Fink. In 2019, he became the first president of the Obama Foundation, furthering its mission and impact.

Deputy Secretary of the Treasury

Nomination and Confirmation

In November 2020, Adeyemo was announced as the nominee for United States Deputy Secretary of the Treasury in the Biden administration. His nomination was confirmed by the Senate in March 2021 by voice vote, and he was sworn into office by Secretary Janet Yellen.

Tenure

As Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, Adeyemo has played a pivotal role in sanctions enforcement, especially in 2022. He has engaged with foreign regulators to promote cooperation and ensure effective implementation of U.S. economic policies.

Wally Adeyemo continues to be a significant figure in shaping U.S. economic policy, leveraging his extensive experience in international economics and finance.