William H. Donaldson

Template:Short description Template:Other people Template:Infobox officeholder William Henry Donaldson (June 2, 1931 – June 12, 2024) was an American businessman who was the 27th Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), serving from February 2003 to June 2005. He served as Under Secretary of State for International Security Affairs in the Nixon Administration, as a special adviser to Vice President Nelson Rockefeller, chairman and CEO of the New York Stock Exchange, and chairman, President and CEO of Aetna.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Donaldson founded Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Early life and education

Donaldson attended both Yale University (B.A. 1953) and Harvard University (M.B.A. 1958). While he was a senior at Yale, he joined its Skull and Bones secret society.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>"Skull And Bones: Secret Yale Society Includes America's Power Elite", CBS News, June 13, 2004</ref>

He served in the United States Marine Corps as a first lieutenant in Japan and Korea (1953–55), as a rifle platoon commander and later as aide-de-camp to the Commanding General of the 1st Provisional Marine Air Ground Task Force.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Career

File:President George W. Bush presides over the swearing-in of William Donaldson.jpg

Donaldson is sworn in as the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission in February 2003

Donaldson began his career at G. H. Walker & Co., a banking and brokerage firm.<ref>Wall Street figure tapped to head SEC . San Francisco Chronicle, December 11, 2002</ref>

Donaldson returned to Yale and founded the Yale School of Management, where he served as dean and professor of management studies.<ref name="SOM">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> According to Lee Tom Perry, a former Brigham Young University professor of strategy and organizational behavior, Donaldson had a vision of Yale's management program forming students who could easily and seamlessly flow between public and private management roles.<ref name="BYUspeech">"Private Service" address Template:Webarchive by Lee Tom Perry on issues involved in the Yale Management School formation</ref> The first graduating class almost all took positions in business, with almost none taking jobs with government.<ref name="BYUspeech"/> The main building of the school continues to display a life-size portrait of him and the premier leadership award at Yale School of Management is called "Donaldson Fellows".<ref name="SOM"/>

From 1999 - 2003, Donaldson was Chairman of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Donaldson was a chartered financial analyst (CFA) charter holder, where he received a number of honorary degrees,<ref name=nndb/> and was on the board of IEX.<ref name="iex-leadership">Template:Citation</ref>

Personal life and death

William Donaldson was married to Jane Phillips Donaldson and together they had 3 children.<ref name=nndb>Template:Cite news</ref> He died on June 12, 2024, at the age of 93.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

External links

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