G. Kennedy Thompson

G. Kennedy Thompson Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer of Wachovia Corporation.

"Upon becoming CEO of First Union in 2000, Ken Thompson led a bold restructuring of the company, which had grown rapidly through acquisition. The result: a clearly defined business model and strategy, dramatic improvement in customer service and strong organic revenue and earnings growth. In 2001, Thompson engineered the groundbreaking merger with Wachovia. Since then, Wachovia has delivered industry-leading customer service and superior shareholder returns. For the past six years Wachovia has ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction among large banks according to the University of Michigan's American Customer Satisfaction Survey.

"Also under Thompson's leadership, Wachovia acquired Prudential Financial's brokerage business to become the third largest retail brokerage company in the nation and acquired SouthTrust Bank, strengthening Wachovia's position as the number one bank in the Southeast. On October 1, 2006, Wachovia acquired Golden West Financial, parent of World Savings Bank. With this merger, Wachovia strengthens its position in California, Texas, Florida, New Jersey and New York, and enters attractive metropolitan areas in five additional states: Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, and Nevada. In addition, Wachovia gains mortgage lending operations under the World Savings Bank name in 39 states.

"In 2003 and 2005, Ken was named one of Business Week's best managers, and in 2005 he was named "Banker of the Year" by the American Banker newspaper.

"In his 31 years with the company, Thompson has served in leadership positions in the Corporate and Investment Bank, Human Resources, and Florida and Georgia banking operations.

"Thompson is a member of The Clearing House (Chairman 2004-2005), the Federal Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Board (President), the Financial Services Roundtable (Chairman 2005), the Financial Services Forum, the International Monetary Council and The Business Council. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Hewlett-Packard, Carolinas Healthcare System and the PGA Tour, and serves as a Trustee for the Morehead Foundation. Thompson also serves on the boards of Teach For America, United Way of Central Carolinas, the Foundation For The Carolinas, and the YMCA Metropolitan Board. He earned his B.A. from University of North Carolina, where he was a Morehead scholar, and his M.B.A. from Wake Forest University."

• Chair, Financial Services Forum