James Lambright

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Exploring Algae as Fuel

Sapphire Energy Taps Former Ex-Im Bank Head as CFO, President-International

Bailout Man Turns the Screws

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During the past decade of extraordinary, dynamic economic events, James Lambright has served at the forefront of the world's most intricate financial issues and emerged as an accomplished leader in deftly handling today's complex, global economic crises.  As Chief Investment Officer of Treasury's TARP program, Lambright spearheaded one of the most exhaustive and ambitious economic programs ever implemented in U.S. history, adroitly establishing the people, policies and programs for unprecedented government investment in the ailing American economy. Concurrently, Lambright served as Chairman and President of the U.S. Export-Import Bank, overseeing more than $50 billion in export finance transactions to over 100 countries.  He played a critical role in rescuing America's economic health from the financial depths that threatened to derail the global economy and charted a course for growth and stability in the US and around the world.

Today, Lambright is Chief Operations Officer for Sapphire Energy, an innovative company at the forefront of a new industry category -- Green Crude Production. Sapphire's breakthrough technology has already produced fungible transportation fuels -- including octane gasoline, cetane diesel and jet fuel -- all out of algae, sunlight, and carbon dioxide.  Renowned for his strategic reasoning, adept leadership, incisive intellect and shrewd observation, James Lambright captivates audiences with his mastery of global financial, policy and energy issues and translates them into powerful, pragmatic perspectives in a compelling, straight-forward style.

SPEAKER TOPICS
ABOUT James Lambright   (+/-)

An Unwavering Commitment to the Public Good in Troubled Times

In October 2008, James Lambright was selected by Secretary Henry Paulson to serve as Chief Investment Officer for the U.S. Treasury's Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).  In this capacity, Lambright built the team, policies and programs to execute the investments under the $700 billion rescue effort, with accountability to five oversight bodies and eight congressional committees.  In less than six months following the TARP's inception, Lambright and his team engineered over $350 billion in investments and loans to more than 600 institutions including AIG, Citigroup, Bank of America, GM and Chrysler.  Due to his successful stewardship, Secretary Timothy Geithner asked Lambright to continue in his role to facilitate a smooth transition to the new administration, which he did until June 2009.  At the time of Lambright's departure, nearly $650 billion was allocated to various TARP programs.

Leading Economic Growth in the US and Abroad

In addition to his role leading the TARP program investments, Lambright concurrently served as Chairman and President of the U.S. Export-Import Bank until his term expiration in May 2009.  During his tenure, Lambright presided over one of the most prosperous eras of growth and economic vitality for the bank and transformed it from a tax-payer-funded institution to an efficient self-financing agency.  Under his astute leadership, Lambright implemented new strategies to benefit U.S. exporters, enhanced the bank's international leadership position with a break-through trade agreement with China, and strengthened government and industry relations to navigate the competing interests of legislators, lobbyists, labor organizations and others.

Skilled Investment Advisor

Lambright joined the Export-Import Bank from Credit Suisse First Boston, where he was responsible for managing major investments within its global real estate private equity group.  While there, Lambright successfully negotiated partnership and financing agreements to maximize cash flow to investors and control over risks and key decisions.

A Man of Honor and Distinction

A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Lambright graduated with honors from Harvard Law School and received a Bachelor of Arts with Distinction in Linguistics from Stanford University.  He is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute.

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SPEAKER TOPIC DESCRIPTIONS    (+/-)

The Financial Crisis in Context

A key player in the US Government's response to the recent financial crisis, Jim Lambright explains the origins and implications of this historic situation that threatened the collapse of our financial markets.  In this riveting and probing presentation, Lambright explores the conditions that created the crisis in the U.S. and around the world, the various constraints on the government's ability to act, the future impact on the global economy and tangible lessons for market participants to build upon for moving forward in this new era.

The Seduction of Trends

The overconfidence in trends is often an overlooked but significant factor in contributing to a major financial collapse or crisis.  From his years operating at the intersection of government and global finance, Jim Lambright has witnessed first-hand the risks and rewards associated with following - and bucking - trends.  Here, Lambright cautions audiences to carefully consider and vet trends before making assumptions about the future including such critical issues as investment decisions, business resource allocations, and secondary education and professional pursuits. 

TARP: Its Origins and Evolution

Brought to Treasury by Secretary Paulson with the U.S. economy at the brink of financial collapse, Jim Lambright built the team, policies, and programs that helped banks and companies avoid sudden disaster. 

Having engineered over $600 billion in financial rescue programs and transactions under Secretaries Paulson and Geithner, the U.S. Treasury Department's first Chief Investment Officer describes the circumstances and challenges surrounding the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).  Audiences will get an exclusive insider's look into the one of the most sweeping economic programs ever created in U.S. history including:

  • Why did the government need to play this expansive new role in the private markets?
  • How Treasury's actions were shaped by concerns about markets, policy, and politics.
  • What can we expect from the U.S. Government as an owner of private companies?

Is the Global Economic Model Broken - or Obsolete?

The pace of economic change today strains the ability of international institutions to keep up.  The rules and definitions-even the economic theories on which they are based-governing our international financial institutions are stretched beyond their original usefulness by rapid and surprising developments in global trade and finance.  In this compelling, illuminating discussion, Jim Lambright explains how the current economic landscape impacts governments and businesses around the world  and their ability-or lack thereof - to be nimble in responding to dynamic, unprecedented conditions.  He also provides an outlook for the future and how reform may be a valuable tool in minimizing protectionist sentiments and policies.

The Crossroads of Public and Private Finance

Few people have held two senior positions operating at the new crossroads of public and private finance.  As head of the U.S. Export-Import Bank and Chief Investment Officer of the U.S. Treasury's rescue program, Jim Lambright brings unique insight into the how the government will navigate between its responsibilities to achieve policy goals through its actions and to protect the taxpayer.  Having served in these roles in both the late Bush and early Obama administrations, Lambright discusses how policymakers approach interventions into private markets, the sustainability of the current balance and what lies beyond this crossroads. 

A Discussion with Jim Lambright

Join Jim Lambright for a candid, lively discussion on today's global economic landscape, the events and trends impacting it now and shaping it for the future.

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