News Releases

The board of trustees of Northwestern Mutual has elected P. Russell Hardin and Ralph A. Weber to serve on the company’s board. Weber is an attorney and founding member of law firm Gass Weber Mullins. Hardin is currently President of the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, Joseph Whitehead Foundation, Lettie Pate Evans Foundation and Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation.

 

“The additions of Russ Hardin and Ralph Weber to our board of trustees mean that we will continue to build on Northwestern Mutual’s long tradition of excellence,” said Northwestern Mutual Chairman & CEO John Schlifske. “Their expertise, counsel and contributions will foster our mission of providing the best long-term value to all Northwestern Mutual policyowners and clients.”

 

P. Russell Hardin has served as President of four foundations since 2006: Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation, Lettie Pate Evans Foundation and Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation. The Woodruff and Whitehead Foundations support a wide range of charitable activities, principally in the state of Georgia. Hardin practiced law with the Atlanta firm King & Spalding before joining the Foundations’ staff in 1988. He received his B.A. degree with high distinction from the University of Virginia in 1979, and his J.D. degree with honors from Duke University School of Law in 1982.

 

Ralph A. Weber is one of the five founding members of the prestigious law firm, Gass Weber Mullins. An internationally recognized lawyer, as well as accomplished professor and author, Weber served on the Law Review at Columbia University Law School, graduating in 1982, and then served as a Law Clerk for the Hon. Richard D. Cudahy, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. He graduated summa cum laude from Marquette University in 1978, where he became a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

 

Both Hardin and Weber are active members of their respective communities, contributing their skills to a number of corporate and nonprofit boards. In addition, both previously served on Northwestern Mutual's Policyowners' Examining Committee, an independent group appointed each year to take an impartial and unrestricted look at the company's operations, management and strategic planning. 



About Northwestern Mutual

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company – Milwaukee, WI (Northwestern Mutual) – the “World’s Most Admired” life insurance company in 2011 according to FORTUNE® magazine – has helped clients achieve financial security for more than 150 years. As a mutual company with $1.2 trillion of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual seeks to share its gains with policyowners and deliver consistent and dependable value to clients over time. Northwestern Mutual and its subsidiaries offer a holistic approach to financial security solutions including: life insurance, long-term care insurance, disability insurance, annuities, investment products, and advisory products and services. Subsidiaries include Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC, broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC; the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company, limited purpose federal savings bank; and Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company; and Russell Investments.