John L. Thornton was elected to the Ford Motor Company board of directors in 1996. He serves on the compensation, talent and culture committee; finance committee; and nominating and governance committee.  Mr. Thornton serves as the board’s lead independent director.

He is chairman of Barrick Gold Corporation, co-chairman of the Brookings Institution board of trustees and serves as advisory board member of China Investment Corporation and China Securities Regulatory Commission. He is also a professor and director of the global leadership program at Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management in Beijing.

Thornton retired as president and co-chief operating officer of The Goldman Sachs Group in 2003. He was chairman of Goldman Sachs-Asia from 1996 to 1998. Previously, he was co-chief executive of Goldman Sachs International, the firm’s business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Thornton joined Goldman Sachs in 1980 and was named a partner in 1988.

He also serves on the board at China Unicom Limited, Hong Kong.