George F. Russell, Jr.

George F. Russell, Jr. has served on NBR’s Board of Directors since 1993 and was Chairman for thirteen of those years. Internationally known as an advocate for narrowing the gap between the “haves” and the “have nots”, George has a focus on a number of challenges: the promotion of globalization…the destruction of nuclear waste…strengthening U.S.-Russian relations…ground-level humanitarian projects…and bridging the current divide between Muslims and non-Muslims in America.

George built Frank Russell Company from one part-time secretary in 1958 to become one of the world’s leading investment advisory firms. He served as chairman from 1958 until the firm was sold to Northwestern Mutual Life in 1999. Today, the company guides over 1,900 clients in 44 countries with assets exceeding more than $2.4 trillion, and manages $171 billion in funds. The company is often recognized by the stock market index The Russell 2000, which is one of a large number of Russell indexes around the world, many more than any other index group offers.

A native of Tacoma, Washington, George pioneered the business of pension fund consulting in the late 1960s. He is a well-known advocate of diversified global investing and, along with Warren Buffett, was named in 1993 by Pensions & Investments as one of the four most influential people in the world of institutional investing. He received the CFA Institute’s Thomas L. Hansberger Leadership in Global Investing Award in 2008, and in 2009 was presented with the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service.

George and Jane, his late wife, led a growing economic development effort in their hometown of Tacoma, and were active supporters of education and the arts. Their civic leadership has resulted in many honors. They jointly received the prestigious E. Donnell Thomas “Medal of Achievement” from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, recognizing their inspirational leadership and world vision in 1997. They were the couple behind the creation of the internationally recognized Museum of Glass in Tacoma.

Currently, George is Chairman and Founder of One Nation, a project working to change the perceptions of Islam and Muslims in America, Chairman of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Technologies, Inc., The Russell Family Foundation and the Threshold Group. He is Honorary Co-Chair of the Business Humanitarian Forum, Board Member of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and a member of the International Advisor Board of the University of Peace. George is Chairman Emeritus of the EastWest Institute (EWI), The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR), Museum of Glass, Russell 20-20 and Russell Investments.