M. Michele Burns
Martha Burns | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth year and age Georgia, U.S. |
| Occupation | Business executive |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Known for | Chairman and CEO of Mercer (2006–2011); board member of Cisco Systems, Wal-Mart, Goldman Sachs |
Martha Michele Burns (born February 1958 in Georgia) is a prominent American executive. She held the positions of chairman and CEO at Mercer from 2006 until 2011 and has been a board member for leading corporations such as Cisco Systems, Wal-Mart, and Goldman Sachs.
Education
Burns completed her Bachelor of Business Administration degree summa cum laude and obtained a Master of Accountancy from the University of Georgia in 1979 and 1980, respectively.
Early career
Her career from 1981 to 1999 was marked by her role as Senior Tax Partner at Arthur Andersen. In 1999, she joined Delta Air Lines as Vice President of Corporate Tax, subsequently rising to Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer between 2000 and 2004. Between 2004 and 2006, Burns took on the roles of EVP, CFO, and restructuring officer at Mirant.
CEO and director
During the period from 2006 to 2011, Burns simultaneously served as Executive Vice President and CFO of Marsh & McLennan while acting as Chairman and CEO of Mercer. Presently, she is on the Board of Directors at Cisco Systems, having formerly contributed her expertise to the boards of Wal-Mart, Goldman Sachs, Orbitz, and Worldspan.
Support of politics and arts
Burns is an advocate for the Democratic Party, having supported figures such as Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, and organizations like EMILY's List. She holds trustee positions with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Elton John AIDS Foundation, where she also fulfills the role of Treasurer. Her total compensation in 2010 was $4,648,029.00.