Corporate Directors From Denny’s, Nationwide, Office Depot, ONEOK, and Sempra Energy Become NACD Fellows in Q2 2016

WASHINGTON, Aug. 02, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), the advocate for the profession of directorship, today announced 111 corporate directors who earned NACD Fellowship—The Gold Standard Director Credential^™—during the second quarter of 2016. These corporate directors serve on the boards of companies such as Ace Hardware Corp., Blue Cross Blue Shield, Ciena Corp., Denny's Corp., Entergy Corp., Junior Achievement Worldwide, Lennox International Inc., Nationwide, Office Depot Inc., ONEOK Inc., Orbital ATK Inc., Pepco Holdings Inc., Sempra Energy, Tractor Supply Co., and on the corporate boards of other Fortune 500, nonprofit, and private companies.

As the highest standard of credentialing for corporate directors, NACD Fellowship^™ is a comprehensive and continuous program of study that empowers directors with the latest boardroom insights, intelligence, and practices, equipping them to lead their boards with confidence.

Directors can earn one of two NACD Fellowship credentials, which Anne Sheehan, director of corporate governance for CalSTRS, has called “the gold standard” in director credentialing. NACD Governance Fellows build proficiencies in the fundamentals of governance, while NACD Board Leadership Fellows refine their board leadership competencies year after year.

“At a minimum, individuals serving as independent chairs and/or lead directors should earn NACD Fellowship status to bolster confidence in their leadership, both inside and outside the boardroom,” said Patrick McGurn, special counsel and head of strategic research and analysis at Institutional Shareholder Services.

Sheehan concurred: “America needs well-rounded directors who are sensitive to public-company shareowners, and who can clearly demonstrate their value on proxy disclosures. I always look forward to meeting NACD Fellows.”

The NACD Fellowship community is backed by more than 35 years of NACD experience and represents the combined knowledge capital of thousands of the world’s largest and most-diverse companies.

"Directors who choose to enhance their skills and acumen by becoming NACD Fellows demonstrate to company management, shareholders, and their peers a desire to perform their fiduciary duties to the best of their abilities," said Ken Daly, CEO of NACD. "I am pleased to recognize these distinguished leaders, who are dedicated to upholding the highest standards of governance."

The new cadre of NACD Fellows includes 52 Board Leadership Fellows and 59 Governance Fellows, whose boards span a wide range of industries: aerospace and defense, agriculture, banking, computer software, energy and utilities, engineering, financial services, food services, healthcare, higher education, industrial machinery, insurance, manufacturing, telecommunications, and more.

Individuals Named NACD Board Leadership Fellows, Q2 2016

Individuals Named NACD Governance Fellows, Q2 2016

For more information about NACD Fellowship, visit NACDonline.org/Fellowship or contact Meghan Metzbower at Fellowship@NACDonline.org or 202-803-6764.

About NACD

The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) helps more than 17,000 directors lead with confidence. As the recognized authority on leading boardroom practices, NACD aspires to a world where businesses are sustainable, profitable, and respected, and where stakeholders trust directors to develop strategies that create long-term value and provide effective oversight. World-class boards join NACD to elevate performance, gain foresight, and instill confidence. Fostering collaboration among directors, investors, and governance stakeholders, NACD has been shaping the future of board leadership for more than 35 years. To learn more about NACD, visit www.NACDonline.org. To become an NACD member, please contact Steve Kalan at Join@NACDonline.org or 202-572-2089. If you are already a member, contact your NACD Membership Advisor at MembershipAdvisor@NACDonline.org to ensure that you are receiving the best value from your membership.