Michael Vachon

Michael Vachon is director of communications at Soros Fund Management (SFM), a $12,000 million dollar hedge fund advisor.

Vachon serves as spokesperson for the firm and for its founder, George Soros. He advises Soros and other executives on media relations and external affairs and acts as Mr. Soros’ chief of staff for special projects, including overseeing Soros' political contributions. Prior to joining SFM, Vachon was director of communications and a member of the executive committee of The Commonwealth Fund, one of the nation’s oldest private foundations. Before that he was director of communications at the Open Society Institute. Before joining the foundation he worked for several years as a financial journalist. Mr. Vachon holds an MA in international relations from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, where he now teaches a graduate course in media relations and communications His father was the late John Vachon, a noted photographer for the New Deal-era Farm Security Administration and a protege of photographer Walker Evans. John Vachon later worked as a staff photogapher for Look Magazine. His mother, the late Marie-Francoise Forestier Vachon, a native of France, was a professor of French at Columbia University's College of General Studies and the State University of New York at Purchase, and later worked as a translator for the United Nations. Michael Vachon is the brother of independent film producer Christine Vachon. Michael Vachon, and also has three half-siblings: Ann Vachon, a choreographer and professor of Dance at Boyer College of Music, Temple University and director of the Limon Institute;Brian Vachon, former editor of Vermont Life magainze;and Gail Vachon, a musician (1980's no-wave band Ypants) and filmmaker.