NACD New Jersey Chapter Announces the Honorees for the 2019 Inaugural Director of the Year Awards

SUMMIT, N.J., Sept. 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of Corporate Directors New Jersey Chapter (NACD NJ) is proud to announce the recipients of the inaugural 2019 Director of the Year Awards. This event recognizes directors of public, private, and non-profit boards who have made valuable contributions to the boards on which they serve and advance exemplary board leadership. The awards will be presented at a formal ceremony on Thursday, May 9, 2019, at the Pleasantdale Chateau in West Orange, New Jersey.

NACD NJ will be honoring three individual board members and two boards. The 2019 honorees are:

• Lifetime Achievement in Governance: Shirley Ann Jackson, Ph.D., president of
  Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; current board member of FedEx, IBM, Medtronic, and PSEG, as well as World Economic Forum, MIT and Brookings Institute.  Beginning with her career at Bell Laboratories and continuing in her role as Chair of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission under President Clinton and as an advisor to President Obama on Science & Technology, Dr. Jackson has received numerous awards for her extensive accomplishments in the sciences and dozens of honorary degrees over her stellar career. This award honors an independent director (retired or sitting) on one or more corporate or non-profit boards, with peer and community recognition for integrity and leadership at the highest levels over an extended career.  
• Leadership in Corporate Governance: Sara Mathew, current board member of Campbell Soup Company, Freddie Mac, Shire plc, and State Street Corporation; former Chair & CEO of Dun & Bradstreet, Inc. This award honors an independent director recognized by peers as an outstanding leader and current contributor in a public company boardroom.
• Non-Profit Leadership Award: Josh S. Weston, Chairman Emeritus ADP Corporation, chairman of NJTV, Liberty Science Center, and Safe Water Network; board member of NJ Food Bank, NJ Performing Arts Center, KIPP-NJ Charter Schools, and International Rescue Committee. Mr. Weston has extensive prior service on numerous corporate and non-profit boards in New Jersey, in addition to national and international director roles.  This award honors an independent director recognized by peers as an outstanding community leader and current contributor in a non-profit boardroom.
• Private Company Board of the Year: J.M. Huber. This award honors the directors of a private company board that includes outside directors, who demonstrate independence and strong governance leadership in providing guidance to a company through a period of extraordinary growth, crisis, or other major developments.
• Public Company Board of the Year: Merck & Co. This award honors the directors of a public corporate board who have significantly protected or enhanced stakeholder value while providing guidance in steering a company through a period of extraordinary growth, crisis, or other major developments.

"This event will bring the New Jersey corporate and civic communities together, across all sectors, showcasing a commitment to businesses and non-profits thriving in the state and in neighboring communities. We're proud to honor innovators who exemplify the leadership qualities of an excellent director and company board," said Martin Coyne, chair and CEO of NACD NJ.

Thomas Fuller, event chair and NACD NJ board director, added, "Best-in-class governance is critical to the long-term growth and sustainability of our corporate community. New Jersey has a rich history of significant contributions to our nation and the world at-large, from technology to life sciences and more, and we are very excited to celebrate these leaders in governance."

Nominations for consideration of the awards are made by NACD NJ chapter directors and reviewed by a selection committee made up of community and corporate leaders and noted authorities on governance. For more information about the event, visit: https://newjersey.nacdonline.org/Events/

About the NACD New Jersey Chapter
The NACD New Jersey Chapter, part of the larger NACD network, provides educational programs for board members, prospective board members, and CEOs. Chapter meetings focus on both the practical aspects of board service and the latest developments in leading practices and corporate governance. Attendees include directors and senior executives from New Jersey-based public and private companies, as well as nonprofit organizations.

Learn more about NACD NJ membership and general governance information online at
www.newjersey.nacdonline.org

About NACD
NACD empowers more than 19,000 directors to lead with confidence in the boardroom. As the recognized authority on leading boardroom practices, NACD helps boards strengthen investor trust and public confidence by ensuring that today's directors are well prepared for tomorrow's challenges. World-class boards join NACD to elevate performance, gain foresight, and instill confidence. Fostering collaboration among directors, investors, and governance stakeholders, NACD has been setting the standard for responsible board leadership for 40 years.

Press Contact:
Julia Sahin
[email protected]

SOURCE National Association of Corporate Directors New Jersey Chapter