Jacques Nasser
Encyclopedia
Jacques Nasser is a leading global business executive who currently serves as Chairman of the Board of BHP Billiton. After serving as a Director of BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc since 2006, Mr. Nasser was appointed Chairman of both companies effective 31 March 2010. BHP Billiton
is a global leader in the resources industry, formed from a merger between BHP and Billiton.
Following a 33 year career with Ford
in various leadership positions in Europe, Australia, Asia, South America and the US, Mr. Nasser served as a member of the Board of Directors and as President and Chief Executive Officer of Ford Motor Company from 1998 to 2001.
Mr Nasser’s other directorships and offices (current and recent) include:
and graduated in business from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne.[1] He speaks English, Arabic, Spanish, and Portuguese.[2]
, a joint venture between Ford and Volkswagen in Brazil and Argentina.[1][3] He also headed up Ford's operations in Australia. He was promoted to the Chairman of the Board of Ford Europe, to Vice President of Ford Motor Company in 1993, Group Vice President of global product development in 1994. [2]
In 1996, he headed Ford Automotive Operations.[2][4] On 1 January 1999,[1] he became CEO of Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan
.
He served as president and chief executive from 1 January 1999 to October 2001. The way he contended with Firestone
tire recalls, eroding confidence in the Explorer
sport-utility vehicle, as well as poor business performances, led to his departure from the company.
, and is on the International Advisory Council of Allianz
.
In its press release announcing his appointment, BHP Billiton cited John Buchanan, the board's senior independent director, saying: "Jac Nasser will make an excellent successor to Don Argus as Chairman. He combines deep international business knowledge along with outstanding financial, senior management and board experiences. The Board looks forward to Jac leading the Group as Chairman." The company added that the decision to appoint Nasser was agreed by the Board following an 18 month selection process. The international recruitment firm, Heidrick & Struggles, was engaged as independent adviser by the Board to assist the Board in its deliberations and consideration of both internal and external candidates. KPMG supported the final process as scrutineer. According to The Times
, "Mr Nasser's appointment gives the Anglo-Australian miner access to a range of new contacts in the business world, particularly on Wall Street."
Of recent note at the BHP Billiton's annual general meeting, Nasser allowed shareholder Phil Robson to rant unfettered to 300 share holders, describing Aboriginal people as "a bunch of drunks", continuing "Aboriginal people are a conquered race", "Aboriginal people are drunks and do not know what to do with their money" and "They have no validity to their continuum of claims and no authority to speak in a manner they do on the issues at hand". However, Mr Nasser did intervene and stop Indigenous Elders Darcy Harris and Glen Cooke from speaking at the meeting. *from the 'National Indigenous Times", Issue 224, Vol 10, 23rd November 2011
BHP Billiton
BHP Billiton is a global mining, oil and gas company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and with a major management office in London, United Kingdom...
is a global leader in the resources industry, formed from a merger between BHP and Billiton.
Following a 33 year career with Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
in various leadership positions in Europe, Australia, Asia, South America and the US, Mr. Nasser served as a member of the Board of Directors and as President and Chief Executive Officer of Ford Motor Company from 1998 to 2001.
Mr Nasser’s other directorships and offices (current and recent) include:
- Director of Newscorp’s British Sky Broadcasting Ltd (since November 2002)
- Non-Executive advisory partner (since March 2010) of One Equity PartnersOne Equity PartnersOne Equity Partners is a private equity firm focused on leveraged buyout and growth capital investments in middle-market companies across a range of industries....
(Partner from November 2002 until March 2010) - Member of the International Advisory Council of Allianz Aktiengesellschaft (since February 2001)
- Former Director of Brambles Limited (from March 2004 to January 2008)
Early life
Mr. Nasser was born in Lebanon, raised in AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and graduated in business from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne.[1] He speaks English, Arabic, Spanish, and Portuguese.[2]
Career at Ford
In 1968, at the age of 20, Nasser joined Ford as an analyst in its Australian unit.[1][2] In 1973, he joined the company's global financial staff, transferring to Ford's North American Truck Operations.[2] He returned to Australia and worked as a manager of financial analysis and product programming.[2] He later joined Ford's International Automotive Operations. In 1987, he became vice president for AutolatinaAutolatina
AutoLatina was the name of a joint venture between Volkswagen Group subsidiary Volkswagen do Brasil and Ford Motor Company subsidiary Ford do Brasil in South America...
, a joint venture between Ford and Volkswagen in Brazil and Argentina.[1][3] He also headed up Ford's operations in Australia. He was promoted to the Chairman of the Board of Ford Europe, to Vice President of Ford Motor Company in 1993, Group Vice President of global product development in 1994. [2]
In 1996, he headed Ford Automotive Operations.[2][4] On 1 January 1999,[1] he became CEO of Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan
Dearborn, Michigan
-Economy:Ford Motor Company has its world headquarters in Dearborn. In addition its Dearborn campus contains many research, testing, finance and some production facilities. Ford Land controls the numerous properties owned by Ford including sales and leasing to unrelated businesses such as the...
.
He served as president and chief executive from 1 January 1999 to October 2001. The way he contended with Firestone
Firestone
-Harvey Firestone family:*Harvey Samuel Firestone , founder of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company*Harvey Samuel Firestone, Jr., son of Firestone founder*Elizabeth Parke Firestone, daughter-in-law of Harvey Firestone and mother of Martha Firestone...
tire recalls, eroding confidence in the Explorer
Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer is a sport-utility vehicle sold in North America and built by the Ford Motor Company since 1990, as a replacement for the smaller but related Ford Bronco II. It is manufactured in Chicago, Illinois...
sport-utility vehicle, as well as poor business performances, led to his departure from the company.
Post-Ford career
Following his 33-year, global career with Ford Motor Company, Nasser joined One Equity Partners, the private investment arm of JPMorgan Chase. There, he led a number of deals, including the sale of the iconic global brand, Polaroid. In addition to Chairing the Board of BHP, he serves on the Board of News Corporation's British Sky BroadcastingBritish Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc is a satellite broadcasting, broadband and telephony services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations in the United Kingdom and the Ireland....
, and is on the International Advisory Council of Allianz
Allianz
SE is a global financial services company headquartered in Munich, Germany. Its core business and focus is insurance. As of 2010, it was the world's 12th-largest financial services group and 23rd-largest company according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine.Its Allianz Global Investors...
.
In its press release announcing his appointment, BHP Billiton cited John Buchanan, the board's senior independent director, saying: "Jac Nasser will make an excellent successor to Don Argus as Chairman. He combines deep international business knowledge along with outstanding financial, senior management and board experiences. The Board looks forward to Jac leading the Group as Chairman." The company added that the decision to appoint Nasser was agreed by the Board following an 18 month selection process. The international recruitment firm, Heidrick & Struggles, was engaged as independent adviser by the Board to assist the Board in its deliberations and consideration of both internal and external candidates. KPMG supported the final process as scrutineer. According to The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
, "Mr Nasser's appointment gives the Anglo-Australian miner access to a range of new contacts in the business world, particularly on Wall Street."
Honors
In recognition of his work for industry, as an adviser to government, and for education in the area of technology, he was awarded an Order of Australia and a Centenary Medal. He was also awarded the Order of the Cedars (Lebanon). In 2008 he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for outstanding contributions to American Society.Of recent note at the BHP Billiton's annual general meeting, Nasser allowed shareholder Phil Robson to rant unfettered to 300 share holders, describing Aboriginal people as "a bunch of drunks", continuing "Aboriginal people are a conquered race", "Aboriginal people are drunks and do not know what to do with their money" and "They have no validity to their continuum of claims and no authority to speak in a manner they do on the issues at hand". However, Mr Nasser did intervene and stop Indigenous Elders Darcy Harris and Glen Cooke from speaking at the meeting. *from the 'National Indigenous Times", Issue 224, Vol 10, 23rd November 2011
External links
- "'Nasser's the Man', Herald Sun, 4 August 2009
- "Remarkable Voyage", The Australian, 4 August 2009
- "Nasser Bring Wealth of Contacts", The Australian, 4 August 2009
- "The Jacques Nasser Scholarships," RMIT%2FGiving to_RMIT%2FYour gifts at work%2FThe Jacques Nasser Scholarships, RMIT University