David L. Cohen (born 1955) is an American businessman, attorney, lobbyist, and diplomat who served as
from 2021 to 2025.
He previously served as the senior advisor to the CEO of
Comcast Corporation. Until January 1, 2020, he was senior executive vice president and chief lobbyist for Comcast. He also served as chairman of the board of trustees for the
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania (Penn or UPenn) is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. One of nine colonial colleges, it was chartered in 1755 through the efforts of f ...
and was
chief of staff
The title chief of staff (or head of staff) identifies the leader of a complex organization such as the armed forces, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a principal staff officer (PSO), who is the coordinator of the supportin ...
to former Philadelphia Mayor
Ed Rendell.
Early life and education
Born to a
Jewish
Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...
family in New York, Cohen graduated from
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College ( , ) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1864, with its first classes held in 1869, Swarthmore is one of the e ...
in 1977, where he triple-majored in political science, history, and economics.
In 1981, he graduated with a J.D. from the
University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Career
Cohen served as chief of staff to
Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell, from January 1992 to April 1997.
According to a 2021 article in ''
The Philadelphia Inquirer
''The Philadelphia Inquirer'', often referred to simply as ''The Inquirer'', is a daily newspaper headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded on June 1, 1829, ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' is the third-longest continuously operating da ...
'', during his time as chief of staff, Cohen was "famous for reining in
unions representing city workers during Philadelphia's bankruptcy in 1992".
In 1998, he served as the chief negotiator for
SEPTA
SEPTA, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, is a regional public transportation authority that operates bus, rapid transit, commuter rail, light rail, and electric trolleybus services for nearly four million people througho ...
during a 40-day
labor strike
Strike action, also called labor strike, labour strike in British English, or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became co ...
conducted by the
Transport Workers Union of America.
He was a partner in
Ballard, Spahr, Andrews & Ingersoll.
In July 2002, he became EVP of
Comcast Corporation, dealing with corporate communications, government affairs, public affairs, corporate administration, and serving as senior counsel to the CEO.
He was named to the
PoliticsPA "Power 50" list of politically influential individuals in 2002 and 2003.
The ''Pennsylvania Report'' named him to the 2003 "The Pennsylvania Report Power 75" list of influential figures in Pennsylvania politics, noting that "No one–in or out of government–is closer to Ed Rendell than Cohen."
In 2009, he was included in "The Pennsylvania Report 100" list of influential figures in state politics, noting him as "one Philadelphian that all statewide Dems should know."
In 2010, ''
Politics Magazine'' named him one of the "Top 10 Democrats" in Pennsylvania. ''
Philadelphia
Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...
'' magazine listed him as the third-most powerful person in Philadelphia and the top "Connector", whose "influence knows no limits", in its ''75 Most Influential People Right Now'' list in 2014.
In February 2013, Cohen endorsed Republican Governor
Tom Corbett's failed re-election bid.
Ambassador to Canada
On July 21, 2021, President
Joe Biden
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. (born November 20, 1942) is an American politician who was the 46th president of the United States from 2021 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice p ...
announced his intent to nominate Cohen as the United States ambassador to Canada.
Hearings on his nomination were held before the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
The United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is a standing committee of the U.S. Senate charged with leading foreign-policy legislation and debate in the Senate. It is generally responsible for authorizing and overseeing foreign a ...
on September 22, 2021. The committee favorably reported his nomination to the Senate floor on October 19, 2021. Cohen was officially confirmed by the Senate in a
voice vote
In parliamentary procedure, a voice vote (from the Latin ''viva voce'', meaning "by live voice") or acclamation is a voting method in deliberative assemblies (such as legislatures) in which a group vote is taken on a topic or motion by respondin ...
on November 2, 2021.
Cohen was sworn in by Vice President
Kamala Harris
Kamala Devi Harris ( ; born October 20, 1964) is an American politician and attorney who served as the 49th vice president of the United States from 2021 to 2025 under President Joe Biden. She is the first female, first African American, and ...
on December 1, 2021. On December 7, 2021, he presented his credentials to
Governor General Mary Simon
Mary Jeannie May Simon (born August 21, 1947) is a Canadian civil servant, diplomat, and former broadcaster who has been serving as the 30th governor general of Canada since July 26, 2021. She is Inuit, Inuk on her mother's side, making her th ...
.
References
External links
Comcast Executive Bio*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cohen, David L.
1955 births
Living people
Ambassadors of the United States to Canada
American business executives
Businesspeople from Philadelphia
Comcast people
American Jews
American lawyers
Pennsylvania lawyers
Swarthmore College alumni
University of Pennsylvania Law School alumni