Robert J. Birnbaum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President of the New York Stock Exchange | |
| In office May 6, 1985 – 1988 | |
| Preceded by | John J. Phelan Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Richard Grasso |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert Jack Birnbaum September 3, 1927 Bronx, New York, U.S. |
| Died | December 23, 2021 (aged 94) Boca Raton, Florida, U.S. |
| Spouse(s) | Joy E. Birnbaum (d. 1990) Gloria J. Birnbaum |
| Occupation | Wall Street executive, attorney |
Robert Jack Birnbaum (September 3, 1927 – December 23, 2021) was an American financial executive who served as president of the American Stock Exchange and president of the New York Stock Exchange. He was the president of the NYSE during the Stock market crash of 1987, dubbed Black Monday. He contributed to the adoption of changes in the exchange's operations after the event, including circuit breakers as trade curbing mechanisms during periods of intense volatility. Birnbaum had earlier worked for the Securities Exchange Commission, where his studies recommended the introduction of the forerunner of the modern National Market System in securities trading.