William “Mo” Cowan

Biography

U.S. Senator William “Mo" Cowan (retired) is President, Global Government Affairs and Policy and Developed Markets for General Electric Co. (GE), responsible for directing the company’s government relations and public policy engagement in the United States and around the world. Mo also leads the Global Growth Organizational national executive teams in Europe and Canada. Mo previously served as Vice President, Litigation and Legal Policy for the Company, overseeing litigation, enforcement proceedings, investigations and compliance globally.

Before joining GE, Mo held leadership roles (President and CEO, May 2016-March 2017; SVP and COO, November 2013-April 2016) with ML Strategies, a leading government relations and consulting firm, and the law firm Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo. Mo also served as a Fellow at the Harvard University Institute of Politics for the Fall semester of 2013.

On January 30, 2013, Governor Deval L. Patrick appointed Mo to serve as interim United States Senator upon the resignation of John F. Kerry. During his Senate term, Mo served on the Senate Agriculture, Commerce, and Small Business Committees, and co-chaired the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Food and Agricultural Research (Commerce Committee). Senator Cowan concluded his Senate service on July 16, 2013.

Prior to his Senate appointment, Mo served Governor Patrick in a variety of leadership positions, including Chief Legal Counsel, Chief of Staff, and Senior Advisor. As Chief of Staff, Mo directed strategic planning, investment and operations, including oversight of the state’s multi-billion dollar, annual budgeting process. As chief strategist and crisis manager to the Governor, Mo advised on all domestic and international affairs, intergovernmental relations and gubernatorial appointments and administered all management and personnel functions within the Governor’s office.

Mo is a graduate of Duke University and Northeastern University School of Law. He holds honorary degrees from Georgetown University, Newbury College, and Bridgewater State University.

Mo is a member of the US Association of Former Members of Congress. He also serves on the governance boards of: Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, Massachusetts General Hospital, Eastern Bank Corporation, MassChallenge, Mass General Brigham, The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, and The New England Council. Mo also serves on advisory committees for Cambridge College, Duke University and the Dimock Community Health Center.