James M. Cornelius


Jim Cornelius serves as non-executive Board Chairman of Mead Johnson Nutrition (MJN), a global leader in the pediatric nutrition industry.  He has held the position since MJN’s split-off from Bristol-Myers Squibb to become an independent public company in December 2009.  Best known for its world-leading “Enfa” family of brands, Mead Johnson develops, manufactures, markets and distributed more than 70 products in nearly 60 markets worldwide.  Its stock trades on the NYSE with a current market capitalization of $20 million.

Mr. Cornelius was the non-executive Chairman of Bristol-Myers Squibb, a position he assumed after retiring as CEO in 2010 until his retirement May 5, 2015.  Mr. Cornelius led the company through its transformation into a specialty biopharma leader, including expanding its R&D capabilities, particularly immuno-oncology, through a business development program that acquired nearly a dozen new technologies and potential biopharma products and companies.  Today it trades at over $100 billion market capitalization.

Born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Mr. Cornelius attended Michigan State University, earning a BA magna cum laude in accounting in 1965 and an MBA in 1967.  He served on active duty as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Finance Corps from 1967 to 1969.

John Thompson


Mr. Thompson is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the following, Indianapolis based organizations: Thompson Distribution Company, Inc., a distributor of mechanical supplies and equipment; First Electric Supply Company, LLC, a distributor of electrical supplies and equipment; CMID, an architectural and engineering design firm; and BC-SESCO, a fabricator and installer of millwork.  Mr. Thompson also served as a consultant for McKinsey and Company in the New York and London offices from 1981-1982.  In 1983 he operated as an independent consultant to several Fortune 500 corporations from a NYC office. From 1984 to 2001, Mr. Thompson served as vice president of Mays Chemical Company, Inc., in Indianapolis.

He serves on the Boards of The National Bank of Indianapolis-Chair ALCO Committee; Herff Jones Corporation as Lead Director until the sale of the Company 12/12/2014; Heron Capital’s Advisory Board; Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce (Past Chairman); Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP); Indiana Economic Development Corporation-Chair-Entrepreneurship Committee; Indiana Black Expo (Past Chairman); Indiana Stadium and Convention Building Authority; Eskenazi Foundation; Riley Children’s Hospital Foundation; Ivy Tech Corporate College; Indiana Chamber of Commerce; Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee; Columbia University Graduate School of Business and Studio Museum of Harlem.  Past board chair positions include Indianapolis Museum of Art and Junior Achievement of Central Indiana. He earned an MBA from Columbia University and a BS in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University.  He is a member of Eastern Star Church and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.  He and his wife Norma have 3 adult children and 4 grandsons.