William R. Johnston

William R. Johnston offers an informed, longtime, insider view of the workings and challenges of our nation's financial markets serving as President and Chief Operating Officer of the New York Stock Exchange from 1996 to 2002. Mr. Johnston is currently a Senior Advisor to the Chairman of the Exchange.

A member of the Exchange since 1964, Mr. Johnston was a Director of the NYSE from 1992 to 1996. He has served on the Market Performance Committee, the Personnel Policy and Compensation Committee, and the Financial & Operational Surveillance Committee, as well as the Exchange's Executive Committee and the Quality of Markets Committee. Mr. Johnston has also chaired the Subcommittee on Floor Facilities and was a Director of the NYSE Foundation.

Mr. Johnston is President of the Floor Member Outreach Committee, a member of the National Organization of Investment Professionals, and Treasurer and Director of the Cancer Research & Treatment Fund. He has also been a director of the Securities Industry Association, the Securities Industry Automation Corporation, and the National Organization of Investment Professionals. He is on the Advisory Board of the Lubin Business School of Pace University and a trustee emeritus of Washington and Lee University. He serves on the boards of Hollins University, Homeless Solutions, and Omicron Delta Kappa Foundation.

Formerly he was Senior Managing Director of LaBranche & Co. He joined the firm in 1990, having previously been Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Agora Securities, Inc. which he founded. He also served as Senior Vice President and Director of Mitchum, Jones & Templeton, Inc.

Mr. Johnston graduated from Washington and Lee University in 1961 with a B.S. degree in Commerce.