John M. Nash (Retired) is the Founder and President Emeritus of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) and a leading authority on corporate governance. 

Recognized as NACD’s visionary leader and “founding force,” it has been said “there would be no NACD without the dedicated hard work and entrepreneurial vision of John Nash.” From its founding in 1977 and under his Presidency, NACD has been a recognized model worldwide, leading the corporate governance movement of independent directors in the US and representing the largest Fortune 500 as well as closely held and private companies.

Mr. Nash has served as a Board member and audit committee chair, and as an advisor for over 600 companies and Boards, including major international firms. He has served as Vice Chairman for The Center for Board Leadership, a corporate governance think tank, and led seminars attended by more than 5,000 directors. Mr. Nash is called upon by corporations to address their corporate governance issues both in the US and abroad. He lectures extensively on corporate governance issues including in such countries as Australia, Canada, England, France and Japan.

A recognized author, Mr. Nash has written and collaborated on over a dozen corporate governance reference works. As a leading authority on corporate governance, he was the visionary and driving force who launched the highly successful Blue Ribbon Commission Reports that serve as the reference work of Board practices for directors today, including reports on: Audit Committee Practices, Performance Evaluation, Director Professionalism, Director Compensation, Executive Compensation, CEO Succession, Board Role-Strategic Planning and Evaluating Board/Director Performance.

Outside the US, Mr. Nash has advised local and quasi-governmental organizations around the world on establishing processes and programs that promote effective corporate governance. For example, Mr. Nash has advised The Corporate Governance Committee in Japan and Japan’s Ministry of International Trade and Industry, and, was guest speaker on governance at the Japan Center For International Finance, The Japan Association of Corporate Executives, and other forums.

He has been an invited guest speaker on governance at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, and has consulted with the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Australian Investment Managers Group, and Australia’s Independent Shareholder Services. He has been an invited guest lecturer at several conferences sponsored by The Directors Institute of London, the Bank of England, and La regie d’ enterprise Conditions de Succes, has conducted governance programs for the Instituto Brasilerio de Conseljieros DE Administraco, and the Instituto Cultural de Seguridade Social, and conducted seminars on corporate governance for the Association of Corporate Directors of Canada, and many other organizations around the globe.

Prior to founding the National Association of Corporate Directors, Mr. Nash worked on Wall Street, beginning with Goodbody and Co. where he specialized in industrial revenue bond financing and was responsible for over one hundred million in underwriting. From time to time he was responsible for new public offerings and ADRs.

After the acquisition of the municipal bond department by Merrill Lynch, Mr. Nash formed his own company specializing in industrial offerings of ten million and under which were underwritten by such firms as Smith Barney, Prudential Bache, John Nuveen, Kidder Peabody, Harris Bank, First Buffalo Corporation, First of Chicago, CitiBank and numerous others.

Mr. Nash also published The Tax Exempt Municipal Bond Guide For the Individual Investor, The World of Fixed Income, The Investors Guide to Federal Agency and Treasury Securities, and What Every Woman Investor Should Know About Fixed Income Securities. Several million copies of each publication were purchased by just about everyone in the municipal bond business for distribution to customers with their firm imprint. Mr. Nash was also publisher of The Fixed Income Journal a trade publication.

Press

NACD Weekend Reader, June 28, 2013

The New York Times, Sunday, February 2, 2003

The Younger Face of the Boardroom, by Thom Weidlich

John Nash is interviewed on the recent changes in boardrooms composition.

IPO Journal, June 2002

An Overview of the IPO Audit Committee

A full length interview of John Nash discussing the proper composition and functioning of IPO Audit Committees.

Directors and Boards, Fall 2001

A Life in Governance, The Association Head John Nash, by James Kristie

John Nash is profiled in this article by Kristie. The article covers John's diligence, perseverance  and vision in the founding of the NACD as well as his significant impacts on the world of corporate governance. 

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