M. MICHELE BURNS

Former CEO, Mercer

Michele Burns

Michele Burns serves on the Advisory Board of the Stanford Center on Longevity at Stanford University. She previously served as the Center Fellow and Strategic Advisor to the Center, beginning in 2012. Michele was instrumental in building the Financial Security Division of the Center, which brings together the best thinkers, policymakers, and business leaders to drive innovation and change around financial security issues.

Michele’s relationship with the Center grew out of her role as the Chief Executive Officer of the Retirement Policy Center, sponsored by Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.  Michele served in this position from October, 2011 until February, 2014.

Michele is the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mercer, a global leader for HR and related financial advice and services, and a subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies (MMC). She served as CEO from 2006 to 2011. Prior to being named Chairman and CEO of Mercer, Michele held the position of Chief Financial Officer for MMC from March, 2006 until September, 2006.

From 2004 to 2006, Michele served as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Restructuring Officer, and Executive Vice President of Mirant Corp., where she was responsible for directing the company’s financial functions and investor relations.  As Chief Restructuring Officer, she spearheaded the development of a new capital structure and plan of reorganization – two vital components in Mirant’s emergence from Chapter 11.

Previously, she was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Delta Air Lines, Inc. from 2000 to 2004. She held various other positions in the finance and tax departments of Delta beginning in January 1999.

Michele began her career with Arthur Andersen, and over the course of a successful 18-year tenure rose to Senior Partner, leading Andersen’s Southern Region Federal Tax Practice, headed its U.S. Healthcare Practice and its Southeastern Region Financial Services Practice, and served on its Global Advisory Council.

Michele currently serves on the Board of Directors of Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Cisco Systems, Inc., Anheuser Busch InBev, Inc.(ABI), Etsy and Circle Internet Financial.   She chairs the Compensation Committee for Goldman Sachs and the Audit Committee for ABI. Michele previously served on the Board of Directors of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. from 2003-2013.