Philadelphia, PA, October 23, 2009 – The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, one of the world’s leading business schools, has awarded the Dean’s Medal, the School’s highest tribute, to Mr. William L. Mack.
Dean Thomas S. Robertson of the Wharton School said, “It gives me great pleasure to honor Bill Mack with the 2009 Dean’s Medal. His accomplishments serve as inspiration for all those who seek to promote economic development and social advancement.” Bestowed for extraordinary achievement or service to society by an individual, the Medal recognizes Mr. Mack for his leadership in business, which has promoted economic development throughout the world; for his commitment to his country, his schools and his community through military service, volunteerism and meaningful philanthropy.
“Bill Mack is an outstanding example of a business leader who is able to spot opportunities and create value, always with integrity and intelligence,” said President Amy Gutmann. “His contributions to Penn have reflected the same creativity, innovation and zeal that inspired our founder, Benjamin Franklin.”
William L. Mack is Founder and Chairman of AREA Property Partners (f/k/a Apollo Real Estate Advisors, L.P.), a major worldwide real estate investment group which has invested in 25 countries around the world and has offices in New York, London, Los Angeles and Mumbai. He is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mack-Cali Realty Corporation and Senior Managing Partner of the Mack Company.
Mr. Mack currently serves as a board member of the Regional Advisory Board of JP Morgan Chase and is on the board of directors of Retail Opportunity Investment Corps. Prior to December, 1997, he served as president and senior managing partner of the Mack Company, where he pioneered the development of large, Class A office properties and helped to increase the Mack Company’s portfolio to approximately 20 million square feet.
Mr. Mack is chairman of the board for the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation which oversees museums worldwide. He also is vice chair of the Board of Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania and vice chair of the Board of Overseers of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Mack is a vice chairman of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System. Mr. Mack previously served as a member of the boards of directors of City and Suburban Financial Corporation from 1988 to 2007; the Bear Stearns Companies Inc., from 1997 to 2004; Vail Resorts, Inc., from 1993 to 2004; and Wyndham International, Inc., from 1999 to 2005.
Mr. Mack’s contributions to Wharton, among many, include his support of the William & Phyllis Mack Center for Technological Innovation, a leading voice in the research and teaching of business and current technologies. More information on the Mack Center is available at http://mackcenter.wharton.upenn.edu/
About the Wharton Dean’s Medal
The Dean’s Medal was created in 1983 to recognize outstanding leaders of private enterprise, public service and academia. Through a nomination process, one or two individuals are selected annually. The awardees are chosen for their contributions to the global economy and to the improvement in the lives of people worldwide. Individuals are selected who, through excellence in management, have truly made a difference in the creation of wealth and value, and in the promotion of a peaceful and prosperous world. Past recipients of the award include Alan Greenspan, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve of the United States; Oscar Arias, president of Costa Rica; Reginald Jones, former chairman of General Electric; John Browne, former group chief executive of BP; Fidel Ramos, former president of the Philippines; and Wang Dao Han, former mayor of Shanghai. More information is available at: http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/alumni/deansmedal/
About the Wharton School
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania — founded in 1881 as the first collegiate business school — is recognized globally for intellectual leadership and ongoing innovation across every major discipline of business education. The most comprehensive source of business knowledge in the world, Wharton bridges research and practice through its broad engagement with the global business community. The school has more than 4,900 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students; more than 9,000 annual participants in executive education programs; and an alumni network of 85,000 graduates.