NACD Announces 2025 B. Kenneth West Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient, Directors of the Year and Directorship 100 Honorees

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of Corporate Directors^® (NACD^®), the authority on boardroom practices representing more than 24,000 board members, today announced the honorees of the 2025 NACD Directorship 100™.

The NACD Directorship 100 is an annual recognition of the leading corporate directors and corporate governance experts who make a profound difference in boardroom practices and performance.

This year's awards span six categories: the B. Kenneth West Lifetime Achievement Award, the Public Company Director of the Year, the Private Company Director of the Year, the Nonprofit Director of the Year, the NACD Directorship 100: Directors and the NACD Directorship 100: Governance Professionals.

NACD congratulates the following 2025 honorees:

B. Kenneth West Lifetime Achievement Award: this award honors an individual whose career reflects dedication to strengthening corporate governance and board leadership.

• Donald Knauss: Kellanova (formerly Kellogg), McKesson, Target, University of San Diego Board of Trustees, Marine Corps University Foundation Board of Trustees

The following Director of the Year awards recognize outstanding achievements in public, private and nonprofit board service. Honorees exemplify NACD's principles of director professionalism — integrity, mature confidence, informed judgment and high performance standards — and uphold the highest ethical standards both personally and professionally.

Public Company Director of the Year

• Patty Bedient, NACD.DC^®: Alaska Air Group, Park Hotels & Resorts, Suncor Energy, Oregon State University Foundation Board of Trustees, Overlake Medical Center & Clinics Board of Trustees

Private Company Director of the Year

• Jack Lazar: Astera Labs, Box, GlobalFoundries, Resideo Technologies, Tonal Systems, NACD Northern California Chapter

Nonprofit Director of the Year

• Theresa Fay-Bustillos: Benetech

"These individuals set a powerful example of boardroom leadership excellence, and their contributions have made a lasting impact on their companies and their stakeholders," said Peter Gleason, NACD president and CEO. "We are eager to celebrate their remarkable achievements and recognize their influence at our upcoming Gala, where they will be honored for their continued commitment to driving progress and success."

The 2025 NACD Directorship 100 Awards Gala will be held December 11, 2025, in New York City. The black-tie event will honor all award recipients, including 50 directors and 50 governance professionals. Honorees will also be featured in Directorship^® magazine's annual list of the Most Influential People in Boardrooms and Corporate Governance.

To learn more about the 2025 Directorship 100 honorees, including the 50 directors and 50 governance professionals, click here.

About NACD
The National Association of Corporate Directors^® (NACD^®) is the leading member organization for corporate directors who want to expand their knowledge, grow their network and maximize their potential. For more than 47 years, NACD has helped boards and the business community elevate their performance and create long-term value. Our leadership continues to raise standards of excellence and advance board effectiveness at thousands of member companies.

NACD's value insights, professional development events and resources, such as the NACD Directors Summit™ and the NACD Directorship Certification^® program, support boards in navigating complex challenges. With a growing network of more than 24,000 members across more than 20 Chapters, boards are better equipped to make well-informed decisions on the critical, strategic issues facing their businesses today. Learn more at www.nacdonline.org.

Media Contact
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SOURCE National Association of Corporate Directors