Russell E Palmer

Bio

Russell E. Palmer was Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer of Touche Ross International (now Deloitte & Touche), an accounting and consulting firm. He became CEO at age 37, the youngest person to ever attain that position in a “Big Eight” firm. After 27 years in the accounting and consulting profession, Russell Palmer became Dean of The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. As the tenth Dean, and the first to come from the private sector, he shared his management experience with MBA students in a leadership course that he developed. He was instrumental in attracting over 100 new faculty members to the School, building a new executive education program and complex and raising over $120 million for the school. The Russell E. Palmer Charitable Trust provides leadership, support services, education-focused programs, scholarships and financial support to West Philadelphia public high schools and an array of local and other non-profit organizations. For his third career, he formed The Palmer Group where he is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Active in the outside business community, Mr. Palmer has served on twelve New York Stock Exchange boards including Honeywell International, Inc., Verizon Communications, Inc., The May Department Stores Company, and The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. He is a Trustee Emeritus of the University of Pennsylvania, a former Trustee of the National Constitution Center, and served on the board of Main Line Health. He currently serves on the board of The Mann Center for the Performing Arts, the Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School Board of Overseers, and is a Member of the Smithsonian National Board. Mr. Palmer graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, cum laude, from Michigan State University and has received several honorary degrees. He has written and lectured extensively. His articles and essays have appeared in BUSINESS WEEK, the NEW YORK TIMES, the JOURNAL OFACCOUNTANCY, and other publications. He is the author of Ultimate Leadership.