A recent NACD Board Confidence Index survey indicates that directors’ confidence in continued US economic growth has dropped substantially. "In 2011, we saw a number of financial and regulatory changes that significantly affect business operations, both inside and outside of the boardroom, and these may be having a dampening effect," said Ken Daly, president and CEO of NACD. "The state of the economy is of critical importance to our members and in an election year will be even more of a focus to the broader public. The NACD Board Confidence Index will continue to serve as an important measure of business confidence, providing insights into the economy as viewed by the leaders in America's boardrooms."

Dealing with this new normal puts substantial pressure on directors. Those that recognize the challenges and rise to them will lead their boards and their companies through the challenges presented by the economy, and by new regulations. The mission of NACD has never been more important than it is now, to educate directors and to be the voice of the director in Washington and in regulatory chambers.

Each year, the National Association of Corporate Directors New England chapter recognizes great leaders in the Boardroom. The awards honor those individuals and boards that promote good corporate governance while guiding their companies and organizations to develop strategies, enhance performance, and mitigate risk.

When I look at this year’s Director of the Year honorees, I can say with confidence that each of these individuals and Boards have gone above and beyond in addressing many of the issues facing boards, and promoting good corporate governance in all that they do. It is my pleasure to announce the following recipients of the 2012 NACD New England Director of the Year awards:

Lifetime Achievement Award: Terrence Murray, Retired Chairman and CEO of FleetBoston Financial Corporation; Director of CVS Corporation; former Director of A. T. Cross Company, Allmerica Financial Corporation, and Partners HealthCare Systems in Boston; and Honorary Trustee of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

Leadership in Public Corporate Governance Award: Basil Anderson, Retired Vice Chairman of Staples, Inc., Director of Becton, Dickinson & Company, Hasbro, Inc., Moody’s Corporation, and Staples, Inc.

Leadership in Non-Profit Governance Award: Sandra Edgerley, Director, Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston, Horizons for Homeless Children, the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley, and Be The Change. Trustee, The Boston Foundation, The Meadowbrook School of Weston, and Noble and Greenough School.

Public Company Board of the Year: State Street Corporation, Joseph (Jay) L. Hooley, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer; Kennett F. Burnes, Lead Director; Peter Coym, Dame Amelia C. Fawcett, David P. Gruber, Linda A. Hill, Robert S. Kaplan, Charles R. LaMantia, Patrick de Saint-Aignan, Richard P. Sergel, Ronald L. Skates, Gregory L. Summe, and Robert E. Weissman.

Private Company Board of the Year: Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, Edmund F. Kelly Chairman, David H. Long President and Chief Executive Officer; Michael J. Babcock, Charles I. Clough, Jr.,, Gary L. Countryman, Nicholas M. Donofrio, Francis A. Doyle, III, John P. Hamill, Marian L. Heard, John P. Manning, Thomas J. May, Stephen F. Page, Ellen A. Rudnick, Martin P. Slark, William C. Van Faasen, and Annette M. Verschuren.

In addition, we are also announcing a special award at this year’s ceremony. NACDNE will honor distinguished philanthropist Myra H. Kraft, who passed away in 2011, for her leadership on nonprofit boards and in the Boston community.

I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank our Nominating and Selection Committees for their time and effort in deciding this year’s honorees. I hope that you will join us in recognizing the achievements of these individuals and Boards at our annual Director of the Year Awards Dinner on March 29th, at the Seaport Hotel.

We pride ourselves at the NACD New England in continuing to educate Directors on timely key Boardroom issues. I hope as members you will continue to take advantage of our programming and use this chapter as a resource in continually promote excellence in the Boardroom.

Please join me in congratulating this year’s Director of the Year honorees and I hope that you will be able to join us on March 29 as we celebrate their accomplishments and achievements. They are all leaders who have and will continue to lead their companies and organizations.

William A. Earon
President, NACD New England Chapter

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