Bruce Gelb

Bruce Stuart Gelb (February 24, 1927 – November 17, 2025) was an American businessman and diplomat. He served as the president of Clairol and vice chairman of Bristol-Myers Squibb.^[1]

Bruce Gelb
United States Ambassador to Belgium
In office November 10, 1991 – July 11, 1993
President	George H. W. Bush
Preceded by	Maynard W. Glitman
Succeeded by	Alan Blinken
Personal details
Born	(1927-02-24)February 24, 1927 New York City, U.S.
Died	November 17, 2025(2025-11-17) (aged 98) Naples, Florida, U.S.
Party	Republican

Background

Gelb was born in New York City on February 24, 1927.^[1][2] His father, Lawrence M. Gelb, founded Clairol in 1931.^[3] Gelb graduated from Choate Rosemary Hall in 1945. Gelb was in the military and went on to receive a B.A. from Yale in 1950 and an M.B.A. from Harvard in 1953.^[4]

Gelb died on November 17, 2025, at the age of 98 in Naples, Florida.^[5]

Appointments

• Director of the United States Information Agency (George H.W. Bush) from 1989 to 1991^[1]
• Ambassador to Belgium (George H. W. Bush) from 1991 to 1993^[1]
• Commissioner for the United Nations, Consular Corps and International Business (Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani) from 1994 to 1997^[1]
• Board of Trustees of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (George W. Bush) 2003-2006^[1]

He was a Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Madison Square Boys and Girls Club; a Life Trustee of Choate Rosemary Hall; a board member of the United Nations Development Corporation; a member of the Board of Trustees of the American Council on Science and Health; Honorary Chairman and a Regent of the Center for Security Policy; and a member of the Advisory Board of the USC Center on Public Diplomacy.^[1]