Eugene L. Cooke

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Gene Cooke is Chairman of the New Harbor Financial Corporation. Founded in 1986, New Harbor is a privately owned company which is engaged in real estate development and early-stage corporate entities. Mr. Cooke has spent the major portion of his career in the investment banking and brokerage industry. He was a General Partner and, upon incorporation, became Senior Vice-President, Director, and Member of the Operating Committee of White Weld and Company, an international investment banking and brokerage firm. White Weld merged with Merrill Lynch & Co. in April 1978. Mr. Cooke served as Vice President of Merrill Lynch until 1982, First Vice President of Drexel Burnham until 1984, and co-managing partner of Baker Watts until 1985.

He has served on the boards and as a General or Limited Partner of a number of public and private entities including Chief Consolidated Mining Company, Cold Jet, Inc., Del Crane Medical, Emerald Bioagriculture Company, Lago Mar Financial, Time Release Sciences, Thalgo Cosmetic USA, Beach Place Properties, Somersett L.L.C., Boca Aviation Building Corporation, Moraine Development Company, and Santa Barbara Associates. Mr. Cooke received a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from Georgetown University. He studied law at Fordham University and finance and marketing at the New York University Graduate School of Business.