James L. Barksdale
James Barksdale | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 24, 1943 Jackson, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Occupation | Business executive |
| Years active | 1965–present |
| Known for | CEO of Netscape (1995–1999) |
James Love Barksdale (born January 24, 1943) is a prominent American business leader who held the positions of president and CEO at Netscape from January 1995 until the company's integration with AOL in March 1999.
Early life
Originating from Jackson, Mississippi, Barksdale completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration at the University of Mississippi in 1965, where he became a member of the Eta chapter of the Sigma Chi fraternity.
Career
During his tenure as CEO of Netscape, Barksdale appeared before the United States Congress to address concerns regarding Microsoft's alleged monopolistic practices within the operating system and web browser sectors. He notably illustrated Microsoft's market control by pointing out that every Intel-based personal computer operated on Microsoft’s OS, emphasizing the company's dominant position.
Before leading Netscape, Barksdale served as CEO of McCaw Cellular/AT&T Wireless and was the Chief Operating Officer at FedEx. Following his time at Netscape, he established The Barksdale Group, an investment and advisory enterprise focused on supporting Internet service providers. His board memberships have included AOL and its successor entities (AOL Time Warner, TimeWarner), Sun Microsystems, myCFO, FedEx (until 2018), and Mississippi Today. In 2002, he was appointed by President George W. Bush to the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board.
From March to July 2009, Barksdale’s firm, Spread Networks, constructed a nearly direct fiber-optic connection between Chicago and New York City. This infrastructure reduced latency by approximately 3 milliseconds, allowing Spread Networks to command fees 8 to 10 times higher than typical rates due to its advantage in high-frequency trading technology. The initiative was privately financed and executed confidentially to avoid competitive interference.
Personal life and philanthropy
Together with his late wife, Sally, he contributed US$5.4 million to the University of Mississippi for the creation of the McDonnell-Barksdale Honors College. In January 2000, they made a $100 million donation to the State of Mississippi to launch The Barksdale Reading Institute, a partnership involving the Mississippi Department of Education and public universities.
Sally Barksdale died from cancer in 2003. The couple had three children and five grandchildren. In her memory, the Honors College was renamed the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College.
In 2005, Barksdale married Donna Kennedy Sones from Jackson, Mississippi. They have six children and five grandchildren together. Their recent philanthropic efforts include founding the Mississippi Principal Corps at the University of Mississippi, designed to enhance principal training across the state.
His brother, Rhesa Barksdale, holds a position as a federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.