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Partnership for Public Service Welcomes Ruth Porat and Toni Townes-Whitley to its Board of Directors

February 25, 2021

WASHINGTON – The nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service is pleased to announce that Ruth Porat, chief financial officer of Google and Alphabet, and Toni Townes-Whitley, president of U.S. Regulated Industries at Microsoft, have been elected to serve on its board of directors.  

Porat has been the CFO of Google and its parent company, Alphabet, since May 2015. In 2020, she was ranked 7th on Fortune’s “Most Powerful Women in Business” list as well as 16th on Forbes’s “The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women” list. Prior to joining Google, Porat was executive vice president and chief financial officer of Morgan Stanley, where she advised the Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board during the 2008 financial crisis. 

“Ruth is one of the most admired leaders in business,” said Max Stier, president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service. “She brings extensive executive leadership, management and financial expertise to our board as well as an understanding of the important role technology plays in our society and in improving the effectiveness of our government. We are thrilled to have Ruth as part of our esteemed board of directors.” 

Porat also serves on the boards of directors for The Blackstone Group Inc.; the Stanford Management Company, Stanford University’s endowment; and the Council on Foreign Relations. She previously served on the board of trustees for her alma mater, Stanford University. Porat holds a B.A. from Stanford University, an MSc from the London School of Economics, and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. 

“Technology is rapidly changing the way the world works and it is imperative that our federal government keeps pace,” said Porat. “That is why the Partnership’s mission to help rebuild and revitalize the federal government to be more effective is very important to me. I am honored to join the board during this critical time for our nation and our government as we face health, economic, environmental and social challenges as a country.” 

Townes-Whitely is the president of Microsoft’s U.S. Regulated Industries, where she leads Microsoft’s digital sales strategy across financial services and insurance; healthcare and life sciences; federal, state and local government; and education. As one of the top executives at Microsoft and in the technology industry, Townes-Whitley oversees more than 4,900 employees and a $15 billion budget. Additionally, she is actively involved in Microsoft’s work to address systemic racism both internally and externally. Prior to joining Microsoft, Townes-Whitley served as president of CGI Federal and held executive positions in several other corporations.  

“Toni has a deep knowledge about how our government operates and a passion for public service,” said Max Stier. “She is a visionary on how to harness technology to make our government work better and has been a longstanding and thoughtful colleague throughout the Partnership’s joint projects with Microsoft. We are excited to have her as part of our board of directors.”  

Townes-Whitley serves on the boards of directors of PNC Bank and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the board of trustees of the United Way Worldwide. She holds a B.A. from Princeton University, a certification from Wharton Executive Education, and is the recipient of numerous awards, including Fortune’s Most Powerful Women: Ones to Watch, and the Federal 100 Industry Eagle Award. 

“I come from a family rooted in public service and have carried that purpose-driven mindset into my career,” said Townes-Whitley. “As a member of the Partnership for Public Service’s board, I look forward to advancing the remarkable opportunities for government agencies to reimagine solutions for our citizens and to deliver on modern mission outcomes.” 

As elected members of the Partnership for Public Service’s board of directors, Porat and Townes-Whitley will serve as volunteers and bring diverse sets of experience to the Partnership. They will help guide the Partnership’s strategic priorities and help ensure the organization’s financial health by providing fiscal oversight and support of fundraising efforts. 

“Ruth and Toni are powerhouses in the tech industry and beyond,” said Partnership board chair Tom A. Bernstein, president of Chelsea Piers Management, Inc. “Their extraordinary leadership and invaluable cross-sector collaboration with corporate America and the federal government will bring fresh perspectives to the Partnership’s mission. We are thrilled to begin work with them.” 

Other elected members of the 2021-2022 Partnership for Public Service’s board of directors include: 

  • Tom A. Bernstein: President, Chelsea Piers Management, Inc. and Chairman, Partnership for Public Service 
  • Doug Conant: Founder and CEO, ConantLeadership and Former CEO and President, Campbell Soup Company 
  • Joel L. Fleishman: Professor of Law and Director, Heyman Center for Ethics, Public Policy, and the Professions, Duke University 
  • Nora Gardner: Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company 
  • W. Scott Gould: CEO, Mountain Lake Associates, LLC 
  • David J. Kappos: Partner, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP 
  • Les L. Lyles: Former Chairman of the Board, USAA, Retired General and former Vice Chief of Staff, United States Air Force 
  • Robert A. McDonald: Former Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs and Retired Chairman, President and CEO, The Procter & Gamble Company 
  • Jennifer Millstone 
  • Tom Nides: Vice Chairman, Morgan Stanley 
  • Indra K. Nooyi: Former Chairman and CEO, PepsiCo 
  • Sean O’Keefe: University Professor and Howard G. and S. Louise Phanstiel Chair in Strategic Management and Leadership, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University 
  • Dina Powell McCormick: Global Head of Sustainability and Inclusive Growth, Goldman Sachs 
  • Steven C. Preston: President and CEO, Goodwill Industries International 
  • Kevin Sheekey: Global Head of External Relations, Bloomberg LP 
  • Max Stier: President and CEO, Partnership for Public Service 
  • Dan Tangherlini: Chief Financial Officer, Emerson Collective 
  • Jim VandeHei: Co-Founder and CEO, Axios 
  • George W. Wellde Jr.: Former Vice Chairman, Securities Division, Goldman Sachs & Company 
  • Neal S. Wolin: CEO, Brunswick Group 

For nearly two decades, the nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service has been dedicated to making the federal government more effective. We work across administrations to help transform the way government operates by increasing collaboration, accountability, efficiency and innovation. Visit opswebdev.wpengine.com to learn more. Follow us on social @RPublicService and subscribe today to get the latest federal news, information on upcoming Partnership programs and events, and more. 

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