Boardroom Insights

John Donovan
CEO, AT&T Communications

John Donovan, CEO – AT&T Communications, is responsible for the bulk of AT&T’s global telecommunications and video services businesses, including AT&T’s Business, Entertainment, and Technology & Operations groups. AT&T Communications is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AT&T Inc.

AT&T is a global leader in telecommunications with 100 million U.S. consumer connections and millions of businesses, from the smallest companies to nearly all of the Fortune 1000. It is the largest pay-TV provider in the U.S., with more than 25 million customers. It is also one of the largest wireless providers, with more than 135 million wireless subscribers and connections. The company provides high-speed internet connections to 60 million U.S. customer locations and ultra-fast fiber connections to more than 5.5 million customer locations in 55 markets. AT&T also provides global IP network services that connect nearly 3.5 million businesses on six continents and delivers connectivity for 34 million connected devices.

Previously, Donovan served as Chief Strategy Officer and Group President – AT&T Technology and Operations. In that role, he led strategic planning for the company overall. Additionally, he led the company’s networks and technologies team, which has driven AT&T’s global leadership in the technological transition to software-defined networking – with a focus on virtualized or cloud-based network controls – as well as the company’s leadership in the move to 5G networks. In that role, he also oversaw the company’s global information, software development, supply chain, network operations, and big data organizations, as well as AT&T’s Intellectual Property group, Labs and Foundries.

Prior to that, Donovan served as AT&T’s Chief Technology Officer, overseeing the company’s global technology direction and innovation road map. Since joining the company in 2008, Donovan has expanded AT&T’s innovation program and the company is now recognized as an industry leader in working with application developers and others to make AT&T’s network open to collaboration and innovation.

Donovan previously was executive vice president of product, sales, marketing and operations at VeriSign Inc., an internet infrastructure company. He also was chairman and CEO of inCode Telecom Group Inc., where he helped shape strategy for wireless carriers worldwide. He also was a partner with Deloitte Consulting, where he was the Americas telecom practice director.

Donovan serves on the Board of Directors for Palo Alto Networks. He has authored three books: The Value Enterprise, published in 1998; Value Creating Growth, published in 1999; and Building the Network of the Future: Getting Smarter, Faster, and More Flexible with a Software Centric Approach, published in 2017. Donovan received a B.S.E.E. from the University of Notre Dame and earned an M.B.A. in finance from the University of Minnesota.

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Thomas Moreno
COO, SONIFI Solutions and Operating Partner at Colony Capital

Tommy is COO for SONIFI Solutions and operations executive for Colony Capital a leading global real estate, technology and entertainment investment firm with over $40B in assets.  Tommy helped lead Colony’s acquisition and post-bankruptcy turn-around of SONIFI (formerly LodgeNet) – a leading provider of interactive media and technology products servicing the hospitality and healthcare industries. Prior to Sonifi, Tommy partnered with Colony to acquire the Miramax film studio from Disney and led the company’s worldwide operations, growing the business from 2 to 150+ employees, and ultimately selling the company to beIN Media Group.

Previously Tommy spent 12 years at The Walt Disney Company. As Vice President of Corporate Strategy, he led strategy for growth investments in Hong Kong Disneyland, Disney Vacation Club, and Disney Cruise Line. He then moved to an operational role overseeing $2B in revenue at the Disneyland Resort.  Before Disney, Tommy was a Captain in the US Air Force, managing the design, development and implementation of advanced technology programs and global intelligence systems.  He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS from the US Air Force Academy.

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Bill DeLaney
Former CEO, Sysco Corporation

DeLaney, 62, served as Sysco Corporation chief executive officer from March 2009 until retiring at the end of 2017. Sysco is an international marketer and distributor of food and related products to foodservice operators.  Currently Sysco employees approximately 67 thousand associates, and reported $59 billion in fiscal 2018 sales.

DeLaney embarked on his 30-year Sysco career in 1987 when he joined the company as assistant treasurer. He progressed to roles of increasing responsibility including vice president and treasurer, president and CEO of Sysco Food Services of Charlotte Inc., and Sysco Corporation executive vice president and chief financial officer, among many others.

DeLaney serves on the boards at Express Scripts, Sanmina Corporation and Union Pacific. DeLaney served on the Sysco Corporation board 2009-17.

He earned his undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame, and obtained a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

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Darren Seidel
Executive Vice President & CFO, Entertainment Partners

Darren Seidel leads and manages FP&A, Accounting, Tax, Treasury and Process Improvement teams. Seidel is a vital member of EP’s executive team, serving as the lead financial executive in cash management and investment activities, banking and related credit relationships, board of directors, government and employee-owner relations.

EVP, CFO, Darren Seidel, leads and manages FP&A, Accounting, Tax, Treasury and Process Improvement teams. Seidel is a vital member of EP’s executive team, serving as the lead financial executive in cash management and investment activities, banking and related credit relationships, board of directors, government and employee-owner relations.

He also oversees EP Financial Solutions, the company’s incentive arm. Seidel helped negotiate the acquisition of EP affiliates EP Canada and Canada Film Capital. He was also an integral part of executing EP’s investment with Exactuals, a provider of SaaS platform for complex payments. He currently serves on the Exactuals Board of Directors.

Seidel previously served as Senior Vice President of International Finance at Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group (WBHEG) where he oversaw international finance across Warner Bros. Home Video, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution, and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. In this role, Seidel was responsible for forecasts, budgets, long term strategic plans, acquisition analysis, special projects, greenlights, and ultimates for WBHEG’s international businesses.

Prior to joining Warner Bros. in 2010, Seidel spent eight years with The Walt Disney Company where he held a variety of positions, from helping lead Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment business in Asia Pacific and Latin America to the head of finance for a Disney Consumer Products business unit.

Seidel holds an MBA from the University of Notre Dame, and currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife and three children.

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Tim Andree
Executive Chairman, Dentsu Aegis Network
Executive Officer, Member of the Board, Dentsu Inc.

Tim is Executive Officer and Board Member of Dentsu Inc., the #1 advertising agency brand in the world, and the 5^th largest advertising network in the world, headquartered in Japan. He concurrently serves as Executive Chairman of Dentsu Aegis Network, responsible for all global operations outside of Japan which comprise over 300 offices in 145 countries.

Tim joined Dentsu in 2006 as CEO of Dentsu America.  Within two years, it was ranked by Ad Age as the fastest-growing agency in the U.S.  Since then, he has risen through the ranks leaving a trail of many “firsts” along the way.  In 2008, he was named Dentsu Inc.’s first non-Japanese Executive Officer in its 107-year history.  He expanded his responsibilities beyond the U.S. to include Americas, Europe and Australia (2010) and eventually adding all of APAC (2012). This was the first time a non-Japanese executive held the role. Under Tim’s leadership, the company grew both organically and through M&A. It became the fastest growing agency network in North America and was named one of “World’s Most Innovative Companies” by Fast Company.

In another company first, Tim had a critical role in orchestrating Dentsu’s acquisition of Aegis Group in 2013, the largest transaction in the company’s history, worth over $5bn. The two companies were integrated to form Dentsu Aegis Network (DAN), and Tim was named Executive Chairman, while concurrently being promoted to Executive Vice President of Dentsu Inc. He was also appointed as the first non-Japanese Director, Member of the Board.

When Tim joined Dentsu in 2006, global business accounted for less than 5% of the entire Group. Today, the international business has grown to more than 60%. Tim has overseen more than 170 acquisitions in the last 5 years including notable ones such as MKTG and Merkle which are now part of DAN’s global network brands.

Prior to joining Dentsu, Tim spent 13 years at Toyota (6 years in Japan, 7 years in NY) in various roles including international public relations, overseas planning, corporate advertising, media relations, IR and external affairs. Following Toyota, he joined Canon as head of marketing and corporate communications where he was responsible for over $300MM marketing budget.  After Canon, Tim held senior marketing positions at the Dilenschneider Group and BASF before landing at the NBA as SVP of Communications where he was responsible for media relations, public affairs, marketing and international communications for the NBA, WNBA, NBDL, NBA Entertainment and NBA TV.

Tim has been named “Agency Innovator” by The Internationalist.  He is a frequent speaker at major industry events and universities. He has served as a judge at the Effie Awards and is a co-author of The Dentsu Way.

Tim graduated from the University of Notre Dame (’83) with a major in economics and was drafted by the Chicago Bulls. He continued to devote his early career to basketball by playing in professional leagues in Italy, Spain, Monaco and Japan. He married his college sweetheart Laureen Langan (’84). Three of their six children also attended Notre Dame (Timothy Jr. ’10, Daniel ’17, Bridget ’22).

Michelle Gass
CEO, Kohl’s

Michelle Gass, chief executive officer, is responsible for Kohl’s long-term growth and profitability, along with strategic direction.

Gass joined Kohl’s in 2013 as chief customer officer and was named chief merchandising and customer officer in 2015. Gass was promoted to CEO-elect in October 2017 and assumed the CEO role in May 2018. Gass was an integral leader of the creation of Kohl’s long-term strategic framework, the Greatness Agenda, in 2014. Gass also led the company’s focus on becoming an active and wellness destination, launched Kohl’s new loyalty program and is responsible for bringing in new categories, partners and brands, including Under Armour and Amazon.

Prior to Kohl’s, Gass spent more than 16 years with Starbucks Corporation holding a variety of leadership roles across marketing, global strategy and merchandising, including president, Starbucks Europe, Middle East and Africa, overseeing and growing the company’s 1,900 owned and licensed store operations across the region. Gass has more than 25 years of experience in the retail and consumer goods industries.

Stephen Hemsley became executive chairman, UnitedHealth Group, on September 1, 2017. In this position, Hemsley remains actively involved in supporting the senior management team, oversight of planning and performance and helping guide the enterprise. As chairman of the board of directors, he leads the strategic responsibilities of the board. Hemsley was formerly chief executive officer, UnitedHealth Group, from 2006 to 2017. He has been a member of the company’s board of directors since 2006. He previously served as president and chief operating officer, UnitedHealth Group. Hemsley joined the company in June 1997.

Byron Spruell
President – League Operations, National Basketball Association

As President, League Operations at the National Basketball Association, Byron Spruell oversees critical league operations, including the Basketball Operations, Referee Operations and Basketball Strategy & Analytics departments and the processes regarding the management of rule changes, the evaluation and training of game officials, the enforcement of conduct standards and discipline, and the application of analytics and innovation on the future of the game. Spruell also collaborates with USA Basketball and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) to promote the global growth of the game and development of players worldwide.

Prior to joining the NBA in August 2016, Spruell spent 20 years at Deloitte LLP, most recently as its Vice Chairman, Central Region Market Leader. He spearheaded the firm’s client and business growth and strategic positioning across 22 states consisting of 31 offices and more than 14,000 Deloitte professionals across the region. He also served as Chicago Managing Principal, supervising talent and community involvement initiatives in the local office.

Spruell has served on several charitable boards and committees, including World Business Chicago and the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and is active in various nonprofit organizations, including the United Way, Big Shoulders Fund, Northwestern Memorial HealthCare and Chicago Urban League. He is currently on the boards of the Museum of Science and Industry, and Metropolitan Family Services in Chicago and the Jackie Robinson Foundation in New York.

Spruell, who grew up in Cleveland, earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and an MBA in finance from the University of Notre Dame. He was an offensive lineman and co-captain of the Fighting Irish’s football team and currently serves on the University’s Board of Trustees and as an Advisor on the Monogram Club. Spruell met his wife, Sedra, at Notre Dame. They have a son, Devyn, and a daughter, Aleah.

Dan Cathy
Chairman & CEO, Chick-Fil-A

Dan T. Cathy is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Chick-fil- A, Inc, one of the nation’s largest family-owned businesses, and is a member of the company’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee. Since taking over the business from his father and founder, S. Truett Cathy, Dan represents the next generation of leadership for the Atlanta-based fast-food chicken restaurant chain.

Dan’s career began at age nine when he sang songs for customers and performed radio commercials for the chain’s original Dwarf House restaurant in Hapeville, Ga. Named as Chairman and CEO in 2013, Dan served as the president and chief operating officer since 2001. Previous roles include senior director of operations, vice president of operations and executive vice president. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Georgia Southern University.

Dan serves on the board of directors for The Georgia Aquarium and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. He is a board member for the Atlanta Committee for Progress, and he serves on the board of advisors for Eagle Ranch, Global Teen Challenge, and Heritage Preparatory School. Additionally, he is a member of the board of councilors for The Carter Center.

Dan and his wife, Rhonda have two sons, Andrew, senior vice president of people at Chick-fil-A, and Ross, Operator of Midland FSR and three grandchildren.

Diane M. Aigotti
Chief Financial Officer and Managing Director, Ryan Specialty Group

Diane Aigotti is Chief Financial Officer and Managing Director of Ryan Specialty Group (RSG) and has been at RSG since its inception.

Prior to joining RSG, Diane spent almost eight years as a corporate officer at Aon Corporation, where she served as Senior Vice President, Chief Risk Officer and Treasurer. Diane was responsible for global treasury, risk management, acquisitions and divestiture activities. During her tenure, she led the multi-year divestiture program of several major operating units including two insurance subsidiaries resulting in over $4 billion in proceeds.

Prior to joining Aon, Diane served as the Vice President of Finance at The University of Chicago Hospitals from 1998 to 2000. She also served as Budget Director at the City of Chicago from 1995 through 1997 after spending several years in positions in the Mayor’s Office and Budget Office.

Diane joined the Board of Directors of PrivateBancorp, Inc. and The PrivateBank and Trust Company in 2015. Previously she served on the Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago from 2008 until 2015. She received a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame and a BA in economics and government from St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana.

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Tony Crudele
Former, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Tractor Supply Co

Tony Crudele is the former Executive Vice President and CFO of Tractor Supply Co., one of the fastest growing NASDAQ companies in the 2000’s. Crudele also served as CFO at The Sports Authority during their high growth years and Gibson Guitar. He spent his early career in public accounting principally at Price Waterhouse rising to Senior Manager. Crudele graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting.

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Paul Reilly
Chairman & CEO, Raymond James Financial

Paul Reilly became chief executive officer of Raymond James Financial in May 2010, after joining the firm’s management team as president and CEO-designate in May 2009. He has served on the firm’s board of directors since 2006.

From July 2007 to April 2009, he was executive chairman of Korn/Ferry International, a global provider of talent management solutions with more than 90 offices in 39 countries throughout North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Mr. Reilly began his tenure with the company as chairman and CEO in 2001. Prior to Korn/Ferry, he was CEO at KPMG International, a firm of more than 100,000 employees with annual revenues of $12 billion. Based in Amsterdam, he was responsible for the overall strategy and implementation of the firm’s products, services and infrastructure on a global basis. Before being named CEO at KPMG, he ran the firm’s financial services business and earlier had held senior management positions in its real estate consulting group.

Mr. Reilly holds his Bachelor of Science degree and MBA from the University of Notre Dame and remains active with the school, serving on the Mendoza Graduate Alumni Board and the Business Advisory Council, and being recognized as a recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2004-2005. In addition to his degrees, he earned the Certified Public Accountant designation.

He is a financial services industry leader, serving on the board of the Financial Services Roundtable and as an executive committee member of SIFMA, and also is active in charitable causes, including involvement with the National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management, Our Lady of Divine Providence House of Prayer in Clearwater, Florida, the United Way Suncoast, and the American Heart Association’s Tampa Bay Heart Walk.

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Kim Jeffery
Retired Chairman & CEO, Nestlé Waters North America

Kim began his career with Kraft Foods where he spent four years. He then joined PepsiCo where he also spent four years before joining The Perrier Group of America in 1978 as the Central Division Manager. He was promoted to Western Division Manager in 1980 and then to Vice President of Sales in 1981. In 1987, he became Vice President of Sales and Marketing, COO in 1991 and President and CEO in 1992 when Nestle purchased the global holdings of The Perrier Group in France which included their North American subsidiary. Kim remained in that position until January of 2013 at which time he became the non-executive Chairman.

During Kim’s tenure as CEO, Nestle Waters grew from $650 million in revenue and a 24% share of category to $4.7 billion and a 40% share of category. Over 90% of the growth was organic. Nestle Waters, under his leadership, pioneered the bottled water industry in America and was responsible for the category’s ascendance to the number one most consumed beverage in America. Utilizing vertical integration in manufacturing including self-manufacture of packaging, hybrid distribution, high speed manufacturing and highly efficient logistics, Nestle Waters developed a disruptive business model which was much lower cost than traditional beverage manufacturing and distribution. Coupled with a belief that people and the level of their commitment matters, Nestle Waters became the fastest growing beverage company in America for the 15 years between 1995 and 2010.

Throughout Kim’s career, his commitment to outside stakeholders, the environment, sustainability and the people who worked for Nestle Waters was critical to the success of the company. Mr. Jeffery was the recipient of the Beverage Forum Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007, was inducted into the Beverage Industry Hall of Fame in the fall of 2010 and is a member of the International Bottled Water Association Hall of Fame. Kim is a sought after speaker on issues of values based leadership and sustainability.

Kim retired in early 2014. He currently serves on the boards of Kendall Jackson Family Wines, Pratt/Visy Industries based in Melbourne, Australia, Carbonlite Industries, and Stew Leonard’s markets. Additionally, he is an advisor to private equity firm North Castle Partners and serves as Chairman of one of their portfolio companies, Sprout Foods. Kim also serves on the Boards of Keep America Beautiful and Reach Prep, and he and his wife Mary both serve on the Leadership Council of Americares. Kim and Mary live in Greenwich, CT with their four children.

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Crane Kenney
President – Business Operations, Chicago Cubs

Crane Kenney is in his 24th season with the Cubs organization. Named President of Business Operations following the Ricketts’ family purchase of the Cubs in 2009, Crane is responsible for the strategic direction of the Cubs business operations and the development of the Wrigleyville campus. He began his career with the Cubs in 1994 as an attorney, representing the Cubs in sponsorship, concession, media rights, municipal and MLB negotiations. In his current role, Crane is responsible for the organization’s growth, including new business development; design, construction and operation of its facilities; media strategy; government relations; associate recruitment and training; and development of a winning culture.

From 2003-2009, Crane was the principle executive in charge of Cubs operations on behalf of Tribune Company, the previous owner. Overseeing all aspects of the Cubs organization for that period, the Cubs won the N.L. Central Division three times (2003, 2007 and 2008), surpassed 3 million in attendance for eight consecutive seasons and set an all-time attendance record of 3,300,200 in 2008.

He is responsible for the continuing redevelopment and preservation of Wrigley Field. Under his watch, the Friendly Confines have been in a constant state of change, adding new seating options, new amenities, expanded player facilities and integrated marketing partnerships, all while retaining its historic charm and character. Crane also oversees the current restoration plan for Wrigley Field, named the 1060 Project. He was also responsible for the development of Sloan Park and the Under Armour Performance Center, the Cubs new $100 million training center in Arizona, completed in 2013.

Beginning in 1999, Crane led the expansion of Cubs media rights with the launch of Fox SportsNet Chicago and in 2003, he founded Comcast SportsNet Chicago with Jerry Reinsdorf and has served on the Board of Directors since its formation. Crane also led the Cubs first Hispanic radio broadcast with partner WRTO in 2009.

Crane serves on a variety of boards, including the Board of Directors of Comcast SportsNet, MLB’s Long Term Strategic Planning Committee, the Board of Advisors of Winona Capital Management (a Chicago-based private equity firm), the University of Notre Dame Student Athlete Advisory Council, the Board of Governors of Global Sports Management Summit and the Board of Directors of Good Sports. He is also an investor in aXiomatic Gaming LLC, the majority owner of Team Liquid (a leading eSports team).

He holds a law degree from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame. He and his wife Kelly have four children, Ryan, Sophie, Clare and Caroline.

Jack Brennan
Chairman, Board of Trustees, University of Notre Dame

Jack Brennan is the Lead Director of General Electric Company and Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the University of Notre Dame. Mr. Brennan is chairman emeritus of Vanguard, one of the world’s largest investment companies. Headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, Vanguard comprises more than 100 separate domestic investment portfolios, with current U.S. fund assets of more than $3 trillion. He joined Vanguard in July 1982. He was elected president in 1989, served as chief executive officer from 1996 to 2008, and served as chairman of the board from 1998 to 2009. Mr. Brennan is the chairman of the Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program; a Chairman of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA); chairman of Catholic Investment Services and a founding trustee of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). He graduated from Dartmouth College with an AB degree, and received an MBA from the Harvard Business School. Mr. Brennan is married to Catharine J. Brennan. Mrs. Brennan graduated from Dartmouth College with an AB degree, and received her master’s degree from Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is the president of College Perspectives. They have three children who are graduates of Notre Dame: William (’06), Kara (’08), and Conor (’11).

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Mike McGavick
CEO, XL Group, PLC

Since 2008, Mike McGavick has served as chief executive officer of XL Group plc, the parent company of the XL Catlin insurance and reinsurance companies.
Mike’s numerous recognitions for his leadership within the insurance industry include: Insurance Day’s Industry Achiever of the Year, Insurance Leader of the Year by St. John’s University School of Risk Management, one of the top 100 Game Changers in the last hundred years of the insurance industry by Leaders Edge, the Bermuda Insurance Institute’s (Re)insurance Person of the Year, the Review Magazine’s Industry Personality of the Year and Reactions Magazine’s Insurance CEO of the Year, among others.

Mike is currently the Chairman of the Geneva Association and is a Director and Immediate Past Chairman of the Association of Bermuda Insurers & Reinsurers. He is on the board of the Global Reinsurance Forum, the American Insurance Association, the Insurance Information Institute and the International Insurance Society.

From 2001 to 2005, Mike was chairman, president and CEO of Safeco Corporation. Prior to joining Safeco, Mike spent six years with CNA Financial Corporation, where he held various senior positions, including president and CEO of the company’s largest commercial insurance unit.

Mike has been involved in a number of industry, political, public affairs and community service activities. He was the founding chairperson of the Business Partnership for Early Learning and is also on the board of Landesa, a nonprofit organization that helps the rural poor around the globe obtain land rights. He was named the Puget Sound Business Journal’s Executive of the Year in 2003 and was the 2005 winner of the prestigious Charles E. Odegaard award for his efforts in promoting diversity at the University of Washington. He is a former chief of staff in the United States Senate and ran for the US Senate in the State of Washington.

Mike is also a founding member of the Washington D.C.-based old boys’ rugby club, the Wild Geese RFC.

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Hamid Moghadam
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, Prologis

Hamid Moghadam is chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer of Prologis. Mr. Moghadam co-founded the company’s predecessor, AMB Property Corporation, in 1983 and led the company through its initial public offering in 1997 as well as its merger with ProLogis in 2011. He has been a board member since AMB’s IPO in 1997 and serves on the board’s executive committee.

Mr. Moghadam has held a number of key leadership roles within the real estate industry. Previously, he served as trustee and member of the board’s executive committee for the Urban Land Institute, as well as chairman of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT) and the Real Estate Investment Trust Political Action Committee. He was a director of Plum Creek Timber Company and is a founding member of the Real Estate Roundtable.

Mr. Moghadam is a trustee of Stanford University and served as chairman of Stanford Management Company. An active participant in the San Francisco Bay Area community, he has also served on various philanthropic and community boards, including the California Academy of Sciences, the Bay Area Discovery Museum, Town School for Boys and as chairman of the Young Presidents Organization’s Northern California chapter. Mr. Moghadam received the 2013 Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur of the Year Overall Award and is a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. He has been named CEO of the Year on eight separate occasions by four industry publications and has received numerous lifetime achievement awards from industry organizations, including NAREIT and NAIOP.

Mr. Moghadam received an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor and Master of Science in engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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William C. Cobb
President and Chief Executive Officer, H&R Block, Inc.

William C. Cobb was named President and Chief Executive Officer of H&R Block, Inc. in May 2011. He has been a member of the company’s Board of Directors since August 2010.
Since Cobb took over as CEO, he has brought a renewed focus to the company anchored in a set of values summed up as “we do the right thing.” For H&R Block that means: we believe in our people, we take care of our clients and we deliver for our shareholders. For the largest branded tax preparation company in the United States with international business in Canada, Australia, and India, Cobb has clarified its purpose: to look at its clients’ lives through the lens of taxes and find ways to help.

Cobb, who brought to his role experience in the retail, digital and consumer-brand space, has driven success throughout the company by focusing the organization on its core expertise – tax preparation. In addition, he has elevated the company’s Emerald Card from a simple, once-a-year gift card to a leading general purpose reloadable debit card in the market with fewer and lower fees than its competitors; driven growth outpacing its competitors in the do-it-yourself online market category; and increased net income from continuing operations by 18 percent and earnings per share 33 percent from FY11 to FY13.

Prior to joining H&R Block, Cobb was President of eBay U.S. Marketplaces, the company’s flagship division from 2004 to 2008. Under his management, the eBay division traded $25 billion in goods and services, and reached a record $2.6 billion in revenue. In addition to eBay’s U.S. performance, Cobb was responsible for affiliated businesses such as, StubHub, Shopping.com and Rent.com. Cobb led eBay’s International division from 2002 to 2004. He started with eBay in 2000 as the head of eBay’s Global Marketing, where he developed the company’s first brand campaign and the largest Internet marketing function on the Web.

From 1987 until 2000, Cobb occupied several senior-level positions at PepsiCo and YUM! Brands, including Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of International Marketing for YUM!, and Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Pizza Hut U.S.

Cobb earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business and a Masters of Business Administration degree from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

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Victor Dodig
President & CEO, CIBC

Victor Dodig was named President and CEO of the CIBC group of companies, one of North America’s largest financial services institutions, in September 2014.

Under his tenure, Victor has helped usher in a new era for the bank, positioning CIBC as a strong, innovative, and relationship-oriented financial institution with a Return on Equity among the highest of its peers globally. Victor brings more than 20 years of extensive business and banking experience, having led CIBC’s Wealth Management, Asset Management, and Retail Banking businesses. He also led several businesses with UBS and Merrill Lynch in Canada and internationally, and was a management consultant with McKinsey & Company.

A member of CIBC’s Board of Directors, Victor also serves on the board of the C.D. Howe Institute and ROM Board of Governors. He is a vocal advocate for gender diversity in the workplace, and actively supports the advancement of talented women to executive roles and on boards as founding Chair of the 30% Club Canada and as a Catalyst Canada Advisory Board member.

Victor is a past recipient of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40™ award. He is a graduate of the Harvard Business School where he earned an MBA and was recognized as a Baker scholar. Victor holds a Diploma from the Institut d’études politiques in Paris and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto (St. Michael’s College) in Commerce.

Victor resides in Toronto with his wife Maureen and their four teenage children. He is an active community member, most recently serving as Co-Chair of the St. Joseph’s Health Centre Foundation’s Promise Campaign.

Paul Idzik
Former CEO, E*Trade

Paul T. Idzik has been Chief Executive Officer since January 2013. He is also a member of the Board of Directors and is President of E*TRADE Bank, as well as a member of its Board of Directors.
Prior to joining E*TRADE, Mr. Idzik was Group Chief Executive of DTZ Holdings PLC in London. He also served 10 years at Barclays PLC, most recently as Group Chief Operating Officer and before that as Chief Operating Officer of Barclays Capital.

Mr. Idzik is recognized in the global financial services industry for his strategic leadership skills and ability to deliver results and shareholder value. At Barclays, he oversaw all key functional units, including Information Technology and Operations, HR, Corporate Communications, Sourcing and Procurement, and all strategy for the company. As the CEO of a public company, Mr. Idzik won plaudits for his ability to build effective relationships with clients and other important stakeholders.

Mr. Idzik began his career as a consultant, and spent more than a decade with Booz Allen Hamilton, where he advised retail, commercial, and investment banks on strategy and performance enhancement. He was a partner in the Financial Services practice.

Mr. Idzik has BAs in Economics and Computer Applications from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago.

Mark Mendola
Vice Chairman and US Managing Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers

Mark Mendola is the Vice Chairman and US Managing Partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers. Mark is responsible for the US Advisory, Assurance, and Tax practices, and delivering the full power of the firm to our clients across the geographies and industries. Mark also serves as the senior relationship partner to several of the firm’s large clients.

Prior to his current role, Mark served as the US Tax Leader, responsible for the network of tax practices across the Americas, including Canada, Mexico, and South America. Mark’s previous roles included the Market Managing Partner of the Greater Michigan Market, responsible for the Detroit, Toledo and Grand Rapids offices; the U.S. automotive sector and the global Tax automotive sector; and the Senior Tax Leader of the PwC Canada Tax practice.

Mark joined the firm in 1986, serving in the Detroit Tax practice. He was admitted to the partnership in 1998. During his time with the firm, Mark has advised a wide range of large multinational companies across a variety of industries, including automotive, industrial products, and retail and consumer products.

A Certified Public Accountant, Mark is a graduate of Oakland University and received his MBA from the University of Notre Dame (’91). Mark is a frequent instructor and active conference speaker. He is active in the greater Detroit community and is on the board of several charitable organizations.