Don Cornwell

Don Cornwell retired as chair and CEO of Granite Broadcasting Corporation in 29, a company he founded in 1988. Granite developed from an entrepreneurial idea into a diverse company operating 23 channels in 9 television markets and became one of the nation’s 25 largest television station groups. 

Previously, Don was employed for 17 years in the Investment Banking Division of Goldman Sachs. While at Goldman Sachs, he was engaged in public and private financing and merger and acquisition transactions for publicly traded and privately owned companies, with a primary focus on consumer product and media companies. In addition to transaction responsibility, he served as the chief operating officer of the Corporate Finance Department from 198-1988.

Currently, Don serves on the board of directors of AIG, Inc., Natura & Co Holdings, Viatris Inc., and Blue Meridian Partners, Inc. He is formerly the chair of the regulatory and compliance committee, a member of the nominating and corporate governance and science and technology committees and previously served as chair of the audit committee at Pfizer.

At AIG, he is chair of the compensation and management resources committee and a member of the nominating and corporate governance committee. At Avon, Don was the lead director of the board, chair of the finance and strategic planning committee and a member of the nominating and governance and audit committees. Don is also a trustee of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of NY. 

Don served as lead director of Avon Products until its acquisition by Natura & Co in January 22. He served on the board of CVS Caremark Corporation from 1994 until 27. He previously served on the board of Occidental College, the advisory council of Harvard Business School, the M.S. Hershey School and Trust, the Wallace Foundation, the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation and as chair of the board of the Telecommunications Development Fund appointed by the chair of the FCC.  Don received his BA from Occidental College in 1969 and MBA from Harvard Business School in 1971 and has been honored as Alumnus of the Year by both institutions.