It is with great sadness that The Conference Board mourns the passing of Jack V. Wirts on July 13, 2012. He was 80 years old.

Jack joined The Conference Board in 1986 as Senior Vice President of Development, and served in various leadership positions for more than 17 years. He played a key role in the dramatic growth of The Conference Board membership and its global expansion throughout the 1990s, including growth in Europe and Asia. He steered The Conference Board through difficult times, serving as acting president and CEO after the untimely passing of Preston Townley in 1994. He also played a key role in the transfer of the Leading Economic Index from the U.S. Department of Commerce to The Conference Board in 1995, which led to the subsequent expansion of the program to include 10 other global leading indicators covering Europe and Asia.   

Prior to joining The Conference Board, Jack was an executive with IBM Corporation for three decades, where he held leadership positions in marketing and sales. Outside of business, Jack served on the boards of several organizations including the Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ.

Jack will be greatly missed by friends, colleagues, and members of The Conference Board.