NEW YORK, May 26, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:NDAQ) today announced that NASDAQ OMX's stockholders approved the following proposals:
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Election of 16 directors to a one-year term;
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Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as NASDAQ OMX's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011;
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Approval of an advisory vote on executive compensation;
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Approval of the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation every 1 year.
The NASDAQ OMX Group Board is comprised of H. Furlong Baldwin, Urban Backstrom, Michael Casey, Borje Ekholm, Lon Gorman, Robert Greifeld, Glenn H. Hutchins, Birgitta Kantola, Essa Kazim, Dr. John D. Markese, Hans Munk Nielsen, Thomas F. O'Neill, James S. Riepe, Michael R. Splinter, Lars Wedenborn and Deborah L. Wince-Smith.
The background for each NASDAQ OMX Group director is highlighted below.
Urban Backstrom was elected non-executive Deputy Chairman of NASDAQ OMX's board of directors effective March 1, 2008. Previously, he was Chairman of OMX's board of directors since April 2007 and a board member since 2005. He is currently, since June 1, 2005, also Managing Director of the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, a pro-business non-profit organization representing 54,000 Swedish companies. Between 1991 and 1993, Mr. Backstrom was State Secretary in the Ministry of Finance in Sweden. From 1994 to December 31, 2002, Mr. Backstrom was Chairman and Governor of The Swedish Central Bank. During that period he also
served on the board of the Bank for International Settlement, as a board member from 1994 to 1999 and as Chairman from 1999 to 2002. He also represented Sweden as Governor of the International Monetary Fund, in the Group-of-Ten, in the European Monetary Institute, a forerunner to the European Central Bank (ECB) between 1995 and 1998 and in the General Council of ECB between 1999 and 2002. Mr. Backstrom was, in accordance with the Swedish Central Bank Act, restricted from seeking employment for ten months after leaving the Central Bank. From November 2003 until May 2005, he was Chief Executive Officer of Skandia Liv, one of the largest life insurers in Sweden.
Skills and Qualifications
Mr. Backstrom has extensive experience in the international financial field where he maintains broad contacts, and he brings a global perspective to the NASDAQ OMX board. Mr. Backstrom also has senior leadership and risk management experience as a result of his past professional roles.
H. Furlong Baldwin was elected non-executive Chairman of NASDAQ OMX's board of directors effective May 12, 2003 and has been a member of NASDAQ OMX's board of directors since July 2000. Mr. Baldwin also served as a member of FINRA's board of governors from 1999 until 2003. Mr. Baldwin served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Mercantile Bankshares Corporation, a multi-bank holding company, from April 1976 until March 2001. Mr. Baldwin retired as Chairman and member of the Mercantile board of directors in March 2003. Mr. Baldwin joined Mercantile-Safe Deposit & Trust Company in 1956 and was elected President of Mercantile-Safe Deposit & Trust Company and Mercantile Bankshares Corporation in 1970, and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in 1976. Mr. Baldwin serves on the boards of W.R. Grace & Co., Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd. and Allegheny Energy, Inc.
Skills and Qualifications
Mr. Baldwin has served in senior leadership roles in his positions as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mercantile Bankshares Corporation. In these roles, Mr. Baldwin was responsible for all aspects of that company's operations and negotiated multiple mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Baldwin also has served on the boards of directors and compensation and governance committees of several public companies, bringing extensive public company experience to the NASDAQ OMX board.
Michael Casey was elected to NASDAQ OMX's board of directors in January 2001. He is an advisor to the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Starbucks Corporation, a leading roaster and retailer of specialty coffee. Prior to his current position, Mr. Casey served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of Starbucks from September 1997 to October 2007 and Senior Vice President and CFO from August 1995. Mr. Casey is a member of the lululemon athletica inc. board of directors.
Skills and Qualifications
Due to his extensive background in finance and accounting, Mr. Casey meets the criteria of an audit committee financial expert for the NASDAQ OMX board. Mr. Casey brings substantial finance and accounting experience as a direct result of his responsibilities as former CFO of Starbucks. While at Starbucks, Mr. Casey also gained experience in executive compensation and human resources issues, which are integral to his role as the chairman of the management compensation committee of NASDAQ OMX's board.
Borje Ekholm was elected to NASDAQ OMX's board of directors effective February 17, 2011. Mr. Ekholm is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Investor AB. Prior to becoming the President and Chief Executive Officer in 2005, Mr. Ekholm was a Member of the Management Group of Investor AB, where he had oversight of the new investments business. Mr. Ekholm previously served as the President of Novare Kapital AB, an early-stage venture capital company. He also served in various positions at McKinsey & Co Inc. Mr. Ekholm is the manager of Hycliff LLC. Mr. Ekholm serves on the boards of Chalmersinvest AB, EQT Partners AB, Husqvarna AB, Lindorff Group AB, Scania AB and Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson. He is a member of the audit committees of Scania AB and Husqvarna AB.
Skills and Qualifications
Mr. Ekholm serves in a senior leadership role at Investor AB as President and Chief Executive Officer where he has gained invaluable experience in the financial sector. Mr. Ekholm brings an accounting background to the board from his current role at Investor AB and also as chairman of the audit committees of Scania AB and Husqvarna AB. Mr. Ekholm has broad knowledge of international markets. As a nominee designated by Investor AB, Mr. Ekholm also brings to the NASDAQ OMX board the perspective of a large stockholder.
Lon Gorman was elected to NASDAQ OMX's board of directors in May 2003. Mr. Gorman is the retired Vice Chairman of The Charles Schwab Corporation, a holding company whose subsidiaries engage in securities brokerage and financial services. From September 2006 to December 1, 2009, Mr. Gorman was Chairman of NYFIX, Inc., a financial technology company focusing on electronic trading and straight-through processing solutions for the brokerage community, which was sold to NYSE Technologies in December 2009. Mr. Gorman served as Vice Chairman of The Charles Schwab Corporation from July 1999 until November 2004 and as President of Charles Schwab Institutional
and Asset Management and President of Schwab Capital Markets L.P. Mr. Gorman joined Schwab in June 1996 following 16 years at Credit Suisse First Boston where he was Managing Director and Head of Global Equity Trading. Prior to CSFB, he was a partner at F. Eberstadt & Co. with responsibility for institutional sales and trading.
Skills and Qualifications
Mr. Gorman brings risk management experience to the board from his prior roles in the financial markets industry. He has transactional experience, specifically in the strategic decision-making, business valuation and deal structure components of acquisitions and joint ventures. Finally, Mr. Gorman has a broad knowledge of the securities industry from his forty years of experience in equity trading and knowledge of the fixed income and options markets.
Robert Greifeld was elected to the board of directors and appointed Chief Executive Officer of NASDAQ OMX in May 2003. He also serves as President. Prior to joining NASDAQ OMX, Mr. Greifeld was an Executive Vice President at SunGard Data Systems, Inc., a global provider of integrated software and processing solutions for financial services and a provider of information availability services. Mr. Greifeld joined SunGard in 1999 through SunGard's acquisition of Automated Securities Clearance, Inc., where from 1991 through 1999, Mr. Greifeld was the President and Chief Operating Officer.
Skills and Qualifications
Mr. Greifeld has led NASDAQ OMX through a series of complex, innovative acquisitions that have extended its footprint across the world, spanning all asset classes. Mr. Greifeld also has broad experience in the areas of technology, finance, risk management, human resources and corporate strategy.
Glenn H. Hutchins was elected to NASDAQ OMX's board of directors in May 2005. Mr. Hutchins is a Co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Silver Lake, a technology investment firm that was established in January 1999. Mr. Hutchins is the Chairman of the board of SunGard Capital Corp. and serves as a member of the Nominating and Governance Committee of SunGard Capital Corp. He is a director of Mercury Payment Systems and is also on the Investors Committee of NXP B.V. Mr. Hutchins served as a director of Gartner, Inc. from 2000
through 2005, of Seagate Technology LLC from 2002 through 2006 and of TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation from 2002 through 2006.
Skills and Qualifications
Mr. Hutchins has extensive transactional experience as a private equity investor, particularly in the area of evaluating, negotiating and structuring mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Hutchins also holds a law degree and has extensive experience in the financial and public policy sectors.
Birgitta Kantola was elected to NASDAQ OMX's board of directors effective March 1, 2008. Previously, she was a member of OMX's board since 2007. Since January 2001, she has been the CEO of Birka Consulting Ab, a financial consulting firm. From 2001 through 2008, she was a board member of Fortum Oyj (Vice Chair) and from 2003 through 2008, a board member of Nordea AB and from 2000 through 2008, a board member of Vasakronan and from 2004 through 2009, a board member of Varma Mutual Pension Company. Currently she is a member of the Boards of Stora Enso Oyj, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB and Nobina AB. From 1995 through 2000, she was CFO of International Finance Corporation, Washington, DC and prior to that Executive Vice President of Nordic Investment Bank, Helsinki.
Skills and Qualifications
As the former CFO of a major international financial institution, Ms. Kantola gained experience in the areas of finance, accounting and risk management. Ms. Kantola has a law degree, and she has served as a board member of both listed and unlisted companies for over ten years, gaining in-depth knowledge of corporate strategy and operations. In addition, Ms. Kantola has a deep knowledge of stock exchange products.
Essa Kazim was elected to NASDAQ OMX's board of directors effective March 1, 2008. Since 2006, Mr. Kazim has been the Chairman of Borse Dubai and Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Financial Market. Mr. Kazim began his career as a Senior Analyst in the Research and Statistics Department of the UAE Central Bank in 1988 and then moved to the Dubai Department of Economic Development as Director of Planning and Development in 1993. He was then appointed Director General of the DFM from 1999 through 2006. Mr. Kazim is currently a director of the Dubai International Financial Centre Authority, a member of the Dubai Council for Economic Affairs, a director of NASDAQ Dubai, a
director of Noor Islamic Bank, a member of the board of the Rochester Institute of Technology, and a member of the board of governors of Hamdan Bin Mohammed E-University.
Skills and Qualifications
Through his roles at Dubai Financial Market and Borse Dubai, Mr. Kazim has experience in all aspects of the operation of stock exchanges, including regulatory compliance. He brings global experience to the board through his experience with financial markets in the Middle East. As a nominee designated by Borse Dubai, Mr. Kazim also brings to the NASDAQ OMX board the perspective of a large stockholder.
John D. Markese was elected to NASDAQ OMX's board of directors in May 1996. Dr. Markese served on FINRA's board of governors from 1998 to 2002. Dr. Markese is the Vice Chairman of the American Association of Individual Investors, a not-for-profit organization providing investment education to individual investors founded in 1978.
Skills and Qualifications
As a result of his over forty years of work in finance, Dr. Markese meets the criteria of an audit committeefinancial expert and serves as the chairman of the audit committee of NASDAQ OMX's board. Dr. Markese has a doctoral degree in Finance and has taught business school classes in the areas of Corporate Finance, Financial Case Analysis, Portfolio Management and Investment Analysis. Dr. Markese also brings to the NASDAQ OMX board the perspective of the individual investor community.
Hans Munk Nielsen was elected to NASDAQ OMX's board of directors effective March 1, 2008. Previously, he was a member of the OMX board since 2005. He was elected deputy Mayor of Rudersdal municipality in Denmark in November 2009. From March 1991 until his retirement in December 2007, Mr. Nielsen served as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of TDC A/S. Mr. Nielsen is also Chairman of the boards of Parken Sport and Entertainment AS and Alipes Capital Aps and Collateralized Mortgaged Obligations Fonden. In addition, he is Deputy Chairman of the board of Nordea Invest and a member of the board of Jeudan AS. He has also held various positions at the
Great Belt Link, Carl Bro Group, Danske Bank and Danish Ministry of Finance.
Skills and Qualifications
As the former Chief Financial Officer of TDC, Mr. Nielsen brings significant financial and accounting experience to the NASDAQ OMX board. In his roles at TDC and OMX, Mr. Nielsen gained significant experience with regulatory issues in the securities industry, and also brings significant risk management and information technology experience to the board.
Thomas F. O'Neill was elected to NASDAQ OMX's board of directors in May 2003. Mr. O'Neill is a founding principal of Sandler O'Neill + Partners L.P., an investment bank, which was founded in 1988. Mr. O'Neill retired from Sandler O'Neill in November 2010. Mr. O'Neill is chairman of the holding company of First Allied, a broker dealer, and chairman of Ranieri Partners Financial Services Group, which acquires and manages financial-services companies. Mr. O'Neill is also a director of Misonix, Inc. and Archer-Daniels-Midland Company. Mr. O'Neill serves as chairman of the audit committee of Archer-Daniels-Midland Company and is a member of the audit committee
of Misonix.
Skills and Qualifications
Mr. O'Neill has worked on Wall Street since 1972, and as a founding principal of a nationally-recognized investment bank, he has broad experience in the areas of finance, mergers and acquisitions and business development. Mr. O'Neill specializes in working with financial institutions, and his substantial experience in the finance community contributes to his role as chairman of the finance committee of NASDAQ OMX's board.
James S. Riepe was elected to NASDAQ OMX's board of directors in May 2003. Mr. Riepe served as Vice Chairman of the board of directors of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., an investment management firm, since April 1997. He was also Chairman of the T. Rowe Price Mutual Funds. On January 1, 2006, Mr. Riepe retired from active management at T. Rowe Price and retired from T. Rowe Price Group in April 2006. Mr. Riepe continues to serve as a Senior Advisor at T. Rowe Price. Previously, he served on the firm's management committee and was responsible for overseeing mutual fund activities, including U.S. and global marketing and service operations. Mr. Riepe served as Chairman of the
board of governors of the Investment Company Institute and on FINRA's board of governors. Mr. Riepe joined T. Rowe Price in 1982 as Vice President and Director of the firm. He also serves on the board of directors of Genworth Financial, Inc., LPL Investment Holdings, Inc., and UTI Asset Management Company Limited, an Indian investment management company. Mr. Riepe is a Trustee, and previously served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, of the University of Pennsylvania.
Skills and Qualifications
Mr. Riepe has experience in risk management as a result of his management oversight of financial, operational and investment activities and through his participation on audit, compensation and investment committees. He also has a broad knowledge of the securities business as a result of his thirty-seven years in the asset management field.
Michael R. Splinter was elected to NASDAQ OMX's board of directors effective March 1, 2008. Mr. Splinter has served as President and Chief Executive Officer, as well as a member of the Board of Directors, of Applied Materials, Inc., the global leader in nanomanufacturing technologyTM solutions for the electronics industry, since April 2003 and as Chairman since 2009. Mr. Splinter is Vice Chairman of the Council on Competitiveness. An engineer and technologist, Mr. Splinter is a 30-year veteran of the semiconductor industry. Prior to joining Applied Materials, Mr. Splinter was an executive at Intel Corporation. Mr. Splinter is a member of the Technology CEO Council, and he
serves on the boards of Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) and the Silicon Valley Leadership Group.
Skills and Qualifications
As the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Applied Materials, Inc., Mr. Splinter brings to the NASDAQ OMX board the perspective of a company listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market. Mr. Splinter also has significant experience in technology/information technology, finance, risk management and corporate strategy.
Lars Wedenborn was elected to NASDAQ OMX's board of directors effective March 1, 2008. Mr. Wedenborn was elected Chairman of the NASDAQ OMX Nordic Ltd. Board in October 2009. Previously, he was a member of the OMX board since 2007. Mr. Wedenborn has been CEO of FAM (Foundation Asset Management), which is fully owned by Wallenberg Foundations, since September 2007. Mr. Wedenborn started his career as an auditor followed by an assignment as CFO at Cabanco. During 1991-2000 he was Deputy Managing Director and CFO at Alfred Berg, a Scandinavian investment bank. He served with Investor AB, a Swedish holding company, as Executive Vice President and CFO from 2000-2007. Mr. Wedenborn is
Chairman of the board of PWP and a board member of SKF AB and The Grand Hotel.
Skills and Qualifications
Mr. Wedenborn gained senior leadership experience through his work at FAM, Investor AB and Alfred Berg. He also possesses significant regulatory experience, and adds a global perspective to the NASDAQ OMX board.
Deborah L. Wince-Smith was elected to NASDAQ OMX's board of directors in May 2004. Ms. Wince-Smith has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Council on Competitiveness, a non-profit group of CEOs, university presidents and labor leaders committed to driving U.S. competitiveness, since 2001. In 2006, she was nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as a member of the Oversight Board of the Internal Revenue Service. She is an appointed member of the Secretary of State's Advisory Committee on International Economic Policy, serves on the Board of Governors for Argonne National Laboratory, and on the boards of several start-up technology companies. In 1989, she
became the first Senate Confirmed Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy in the Department of Commerce. Previously, she served in the Reagan Administration as the Assistant Director for International Affairs and Global Competitiveness in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Skills and Qualifications
Ms. Wince-Smith is a globally recognized expert on science and technology policy and management, technology commercialization, domestic and international economic policy, innovation strategy and global business. Ms. Wince-Smith has been engaged in the valuations of start-up technology companies and in the architecture for developing and executing new strategic partnerships and capital investments. In the area of technology/information technology, she is an internationally known expert in the role of IT productivity and competitive business advantage.
About NASDAQ OMX
The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. is the world's largest exchange company. It delivers trading, exchange technology and public company services across six continents, with approximately 3,600 listed companies. NASDAQ OMX offers multiple capital raising solutions to companies around the globe, including its U.S. listings market, NASDAQ OMX Nordic, NASDAQ OMX Baltic, NASDAQ OMX First North, and the U.S. 144A sector. The company offers trading across multiple asset classes including equities, derivatives, debt, commodities, structured products and exchange-traded funds. NASDAQ OMX technology supports the operations of over 70 exchanges, clearing organizations and central securities depositories in more than 50 countries. NASDAQ OMX
Nordic and NASDAQ OMX Baltic are not legal entities but describe the common offering from NASDAQ OMX exchanges in Helsinki, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Iceland, Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius. For more information about NASDAQ OMX, visit
http://www.nasdaqomx.com. *Please follow NASDAQ OMX on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/NASDAQ-OMX/108167527653) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/nasdaqomx).
NDAQF
CONTACT: The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc.
Media Contacts:
Frank De Maria
+1.212.231.5183
frank.demaria@nasdaqomx.com
Alexandra Honeysett
+1.646.441.5211
alexandra.honeysett@nasdaqomx.com
Source:
The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc.
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