NACD Announces 2026 B. Kenneth West Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient, Directors of the Year and Directorship 100 Honorees
WASHINGTON, Sept. 21, 2026 /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 2026 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, Public Company Director of the Year, Private Company Director of the Year, Nonprofit Director of the Year, NACD Directorship 100: Directors, and NACD Directorship 100: Governance Professionals.
While this year's director of the year category finalists are impressive and exemplary leaders in their companies and business communities. Today, NACD congratulates the following 2026 winners:
B. Kenneth West Lifetime Achievement Award: This award honors an individual whose career reflects dedication to strengthening corporate governance and board leadership.
B. Kenneth West Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
- Richard K. Davis: Dow Chemical, Mastercard, Wells Fargo, Mayo Clinic
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
- Ellen Zane: Boston Scientific Corporation, Global Medical Response, Haemonetics Corporation, Synchrony Financial, Savista, Perspectum
Private Company Director of the Year
- Yvonne Wassenaar: Arista Networks, Rubrik, JFrog, Braze, Infoblox, Finout, Alation
Nonprofit Director of the Year
- George Vradenburg: Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative, UsAgainstAlzheimer's, Global Alzheimer's Platform Foundation, Voices of Alzheimer's, The Phillips Collection, Bee Vradenburg Foundation
"These individuals set a powerful example of boardroom leadership excellence, and their contributions have made a lasting impact to their companies and their stakeholders," said Peter Gleason, NACD president and CEO. "We are eager to celebrate their remarkable achievements and recognize their impact and influence at our upcoming NACD Directors Summit this October and our Awards Program and Gala, where they will be honored for their continued commitment to driving progress and success."
The 2026 NACD Directorship 100 Awards Program and Gala will be held December 7, 2026, in New York City at the Cipriani Wall Street. The black-tie event will honor all award recipients, including our Signature Awards Finalists and 100 directors and governance professionals. Honorees will also be featured in NACD Directorship® magazine and throughout the year at NACD programs and events.
To learn more about the final 2026 Directorship 100 honorees, including the full list of 100 directors and governance professionals, click here.
About NACD
The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) is the premier membership organization for corporate boards committed to a higher standard of oversight. Since 1977, NACD has helped directors gain the knowledge, judgment, and peer perspective to guide their companies through complexity.
With more than 24,000 members across every sector of business, NACD brings together independent research, peer networks, professional development programs such as the NACD Directors Summit® and NACD Directorship Certification®, and a nationwide chapter network. When the issues are complex and the stakes are high, boards turn to NACD. Learn more at www.nacdonline.org.
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SOURCE National Association of Corporate Directors
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