Board of Directors
Board and Committees
The Ventas Board of Directors consists of nine members. The Board has five committees: the Audit and Compliance Committee (responsible for independent audits and management controls), the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (responsible for nominating director candidates and corporate governance matters), the Executive Compensation Committee (responsible for establishing financial remuneration and benefits for the Company's executive officers), the Investment Committee (responsible for reviewing the Company's investment/divestiture transactions) and the Executive Committee (responsible for directing selected business affairs of the Company during intervals between general board meetings).
Our experienced, diverse and independent Board of Directors is an essential element of Ventas’s success. Our board members challenge us to outperform, manage risk and create value for our stakeholders. Their collective strength, engagement and judgment have contributed greatly to Ventas’s excellence, stability and strong performance.
Board Composition
Debra A. Cafaro
Director since 1999
Executive and Investment Committees
Debra A. Cafaro
Director since 1999Executive and Investment Committees
Skills and Qualifications: Debra A. Cafaro has substantial executive experience, leadership ability and a proven record of accomplishment, with strong skills in real estate, law, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, strategic planning and other public company matters.
Business Experience:
- Ventas Chief Executive Officer and director (1999-Present), Chairman of the Board (2003-Present) and President (1999-2010)
- Chair of the Real Estate Roundtable public policy organization
- Chair of The Economic Club of Chicago and Chair of the Executive Committee
- Member of the boards of the University of Chicago and Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
- Appointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel to the Board of the Chicago Infrastructure Trust (2015-2019)
- Recipient of the Industry Leadership Award from the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (Nareit), where she previously served as Chair
- Inducted into the ASHA (American Seniors Housing Association) Senior Living Hall of Fame
- Six time honoree in Harvard Business Review's CEO 100 and Modern Healthcare’s 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare
- Member of the Business Council
- An owner and member of the Management Committee of the Pittsburgh Penguins, a National Hockey League team
Current Public Company Directorships: PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (NYSE: PNC)
Other Public Company Directorships during Past Five Years: Weyerhaeuser Company (NYSE: WY) (2007-2016)
Melody C. Barnes
Director since 2014
Audit and Nominating Committees
Melody C. Barnes
Director since 2014Audit and Nominating Committees
Skills and Qualifications: Melody C. Barnes is an attorney with significant experience in government and leadership of not-for-profit organizations, and strong skills in public policy, strategy and leadership, and development.
Business Experience:
- Co-Director for Policy and Public Affairs, Democracy Initiative, University of Virginia; Professor of Practice, Miller Center of Public Affairs; Distinguished Fellow, University of Virginia School of Law (2016-Present)
- Co-Founder and Principal of MB Squared Solutions, LLC, a domestic policy strategy firm (2014-Present)
- Chairman of the Board of non-for-profit organization the Marguerite Casey Foundation, a national movement that lifts the voices of poor and low-income families (2012-Present)
- Chair, Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions and Opportunity Youth Incentive Fund (2012-Present)
- Trustee of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation (2017-Present)
- Serves on the Board of the Institute for Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University (2018-Present)
- Vice Provost, Global Student Leadership Initiatives and a senior fellow at the Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service Served in the White House as Director of the Domestic Policy Council (2009-2012), providing policy and strategic advice to President Obama and coordinating the domestic policy-making process for his administration.
- Served as the Senior Domestic Policy Advisor for then-Senator Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign.
- Executive Vice President for Policy at the Center for American Progress (2005 to 2008)
- Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress (2003- 2005)
- Former principal in the Raben Group LLC (2003-2004)
- Chief Counsel to Senator Edward M. Kennedy on the Senate Judiciary Committee (1998-2003) and General Counsel for Senator Kennedy (1995 to 1998)
Current Public Company Directorships: Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. (NYSE: BAH)
Other Public Company Directorships during Past Five Years: None
Jay M. Gellert
Director since 2001
Executive, Investment and Nominating Committees
Jay M. Gellert
Director since 2001Executive, Investment and Nominating Committees
Skills and Qualifications: Jay M. Gellert has substantial healthcare executive experience, with strong skills in government relations, mergers and acquisitions, strategy, and public company executive compensation.
Business Experience:
- President and Chief Executive Officer of Health Net, Inc. (NYSE: HNT) ("Health Net"), an integrated managed care organization that administers the delivery of managed healthcare services (1998-2016 acquisition date)
- President and Chief Operating Officer of Health Net (1997-1998) and as President, Chief Operating Officer and a director of its predecessor, Health Systems International, Inc. ("HSI"), a health maintenance organization (1996-1997)
- Directed strategic advisory engagements for Shattuck Hammond Partners in the area of integrated delivery systems development, managed care network formation and physician group practice integration (1991-1996)
- President and Chief Executive Officer of Bay Pacific Health Corporation (1988-1991), Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for California Healthcare System and as an independent consultant (1985-1988)
- Chairman of the Board of Versant Health, a leading managed vision care company (2018-Present)
- Board Member of the Maven Project, a not-for-profit organization that connects volunteer physicians to underserved clients through telehealth technology (2016-Present)
Current Public Company Directorships: None
Other Public Company Directorships during Past Five Years: Health Net, Inc. (formerly NYSE: HNT) (1998-2016)
Jay M. Gellert
Director since 2001
Executive, Investment and Nominating Committees
Skills and Qualifications: Jay M. Gellert has substantial healthcare executive experience, with strong skills in government relations, mergers and acquisitions, strategy, and public company executive compensation.
Business Experience:
- President and Chief Executive Officer of Health Net, Inc. (NYSE: HNT) ("Health Net"), an integrated managed care organization that administers the delivery of managed healthcare services (1998-2016 acquisition date)
- President and Chief Operating Officer of Health Net (1997-1998) and as President, Chief Operating Officer and a director of its predecessor, Health Systems International, Inc. ("HSI"), a health maintenance organization (1996-1997)
- Directed strategic advisory engagements for Shattuck Hammond Partners in the area of integrated delivery systems development, managed care network formation and physician group practice integration (1991-1996)
- President and Chief Executive Officer of Bay Pacific Health Corporation (1988-1991), Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for California Healthcare System and as an independent consultant (1985-1988)
- Chairman of the Board of Versant Health, a leading managed vision care company (2018-Present)
- Board Member of the Maven Project, a not-for-profit organization that connects volunteer physicians to underserved clients through telehealth technology (2016-Present)
Current Public Company Directorships: None
Other Public Company Directorships during Past Five Years: Health Net, Inc. (formerly NYSE: HNT) (1998-2016)
Melody C. Barnes
Director since 2014
Audit and Nominating Committees
Skills and Qualifications: Melody C. Barnes is an attorney with significant experience in government and leadership of not-for-profit organizations, and strong skills in public policy, strategy and leadership, and development.
Business Experience:
- Co-Director for Policy and Public Affairs, Democracy Initiative, University of Virginia; Professor of Practice, Miller Center of Public Affairs; Distinguished Fellow, University of Virginia School of Law (2016-Present)
- Co-Founder and Principal of MB Squared Solutions, LLC, a domestic policy strategy firm (2014-Present)
- Chairman of the Board of non-for-profit organization the Marguerite Casey Foundation, a national movement that lifts the voices of poor and low-income families (2012-Present)
- Chair, Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions and Opportunity Youth Incentive Fund (2012-Present)
- Trustee of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation (2017-Present)
- Serves on the Board of the Institute for Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University (2018-Present)
- Vice Provost, Global Student Leadership Initiatives and a senior fellow at the Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service Served in the White House as Director of the Domestic Policy Council (2009-2012), providing policy and strategic advice to President Obama and coordinating the domestic policy-making process for his administration.
- Served as the Senior Domestic Policy Advisor for then-Senator Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign.
- Executive Vice President for Policy at the Center for American Progress (2005 to 2008)
- Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress (2003- 2005)
- Former principal in the Raben Group LLC (2003-2004)
- Chief Counsel to Senator Edward M. Kennedy on the Senate Judiciary Committee (1998-2003) and General Counsel for Senator Kennedy (1995 to 1998)
Current Public Company Directorships: Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. (NYSE: BAH)
Other Public Company Directorships during Past Five Years: None
Debra A. Cafaro
Director since 1999
Executive and Investment Committees
Skills and Qualifications: Debra A. Cafaro has substantial executive experience, leadership ability and a proven record of accomplishment, with strong skills in real estate, law, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, strategic planning and other public company matters.
Business Experience:
- Ventas Chief Executive Officer and director (1999-Present), Chairman of the Board (2003-Present) and President (1999-2010)
- Chair of the Real Estate Roundtable public policy organization
- Chair of The Economic Club of Chicago and Chair of the Executive Committee
- Member of the boards of the University of Chicago and Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
- Appointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel to the Board of the Chicago Infrastructure Trust (2015-2019)
- Recipient of the Industry Leadership Award from the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (Nareit), where she previously served as Chair
- Inducted into the ASHA (American Seniors Housing Association) Senior Living Hall of Fame
- Six time honoree in Harvard Business Review's CEO 100 and Modern Healthcare’s 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare
- Member of the Business Council
- An owner and member of the Management Committee of the Pittsburgh Penguins, a National Hockey League team
Current Public Company Directorships: PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (NYSE: PNC)
Other Public Company Directorships during Past Five Years: Weyerhaeuser Company (NYSE: WY) (2007-2016)
Richard I. Gilchrist
Director since 2011
Compensation (Chair) and Investment (Chair) Committees
Richard I. Gilchrist
Director since 2011Compensation (Chair) and Investment (Chair) Committees
Skills and Qualifications: Richard I. Gilchrist has a strong background in real estate, strategy, law and executive compensation and has served as chief executive and founder of several major public and private REITs and real estate operating companies with investments throughout the United States.
Business Experience:
- President of The Irvine Company's Investment Properties Group and a member of the Office of the Chairman (2006-2011), guiding all aspects of The Irvine Company's office, retail, resort and apartment properties in Southern California and Silicon Valley, including development, marketing and management
- Senior Advisor to The Irvine Company, responsible for acquisitions and other investments; The Irvine Company is a 140-year-old privately held company known throughout the world as a best-of-class master planner and long-term owner, investor and operator of a large and diversified real estate portfolio (2011-Present)
- Served as President and Co-Chief Executive of Maguire Properties, Inc., overseeing significant growth in the company's portfolio, through acquisitions and development, and spearheaded its successful initial public offering in 2003 (2002-2006)
- Served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Commonwealth Atlantic Properties, a privately-held REIT, where he managed the planning and entitlement of an 11 million square foot mixed-use project (1997-2002)
- Serves on The Advisory Board of Preferred Office Growth Fund (2019-Present)
- Member of the Whittier College Board of Trustees and the UCLA School of Law Board of Advisors.
- Served as a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of CommonWealth Partners, LLC, an advisor and venture partner with the California Public Employees' Retirement System, and a senior partner of Maguire Thomas Partners, a national real estate developer and operator.
Current Public Company Directorships:
- Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, Inc. (non-traded)
- Chairman of Spirit Realty Capital, Inc. (NYSE: SRC)
Other Public Company Directorships during Past Five Years:
- BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: BMR) (2007-2014)
- TIER REIT, Inc. (NYSE: TIER) (2013-2019, Chairman 2016-2019)
Matthew J. Lustig
Director since 2011
Executive and Investment Committees
Matthew J. Lustig
Director since 2011Executive and Investment Committees
Skills and Qualifications: Matthew J. Lustig has extensive experience in investing in real estate companies and assets domestically and internationally, including seniors housing, and advising on real estate and corporate finance, capital structure, mergers and acquisitions and strategic transactions.
Business Experience:
- Managed all North American Investment Banking (2012-2019 as Head, now Chairman) and Head of Real Estate and Lodging (1989-Present) at Lazard Frères & Co. LLC.
- Oversaw Real Estate Investment businesses of Lazard and successor entities as CEO; Served as board member of several public and private portfolio investments of managed funds.
- Oversaw creation of and investments in Atria Senior Living, Inc. (2004-2011)
- Chairman of the Executive Committee, Zell/Lurie Real Estate Center at The Wharton School
- Member of the MBA Real Estate Advisory Board at Columbia Business School Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate
- Member of various industry organizations and served on the Board of Pension Real Estate Association.
- Member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Board of Advisors of the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.
Current Public Company Directorships: Boston Properties, Inc. (NYSE: BXP)
Other Public Company Directorships during Past Five Years: None
Roxanne M. Martino
Director since 2016
Compensation and Investment Committees
Roxanne M. Martino
Director since 2016Compensation and Investment Committees
Skills and Qualifications: Roxanne M. Martino is a trailblazer in the fund-of-funds industry with extensive executive experience and strong skills in strategy, accounting and corporate finance.
Business Experience:
- Managing Partner of OceanM19 (2016-Present)
- Led Aurora Investment Management L.L.C. ("Aurora") and its predecessor companies, including acting as Chief Executive Officer, Partner, and Chair of the Investment Committee, building the firm into one of the largest managers in the fund-of-funds industry (1990-2016)
- Co-Chair of the Business Council at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business (2015-Present)
- Chairperson (2018-Present, following her election as Vice Chair in 2017) and member of the Executive Committee of the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Foundation and Foundation Board Executive Committee (2018-Present)
- Serves on the Executive Committee of the Chicago Network (2019-Present) and is on the Board and Executive Committee of The Economic Club of Chicago (2017-Present)
- Director of Thresholds, a Chicago based not-for-profit psychiatric rehabilitation organization (1991-Present)
- Serves on the Board of Bottom Line Chicago, is a Life Trustee of Fenwick High School, and is a member and past Chairperson of the University of Notre Dame Business Council
- An inaugural inductee into the InvestHedge Hall of Fame in 2015
- Recognized as one of "50 Leading Women in Hedge Funds," by the Hedge Fund Journal
- Honored by DePaul University as the "DePaul University Financial Executive of the Year" based on her lifetime of professional achievement
Current Public Company Directorships: None
Other Public Company Directorships during Past Five Years: None
Roxanne M. Martino
Director since 2016
Compensation and Investment Committees
Skills and Qualifications: Roxanne M. Martino is a trailblazer in the fund-of-funds industry with extensive executive experience and strong skills in strategy, accounting and corporate finance.
Business Experience:
- Managing Partner of OceanM19 (2016-Present)
- Led Aurora Investment Management L.L.C. ("Aurora") and its predecessor companies, including acting as Chief Executive Officer, Partner, and Chair of the Investment Committee, building the firm into one of the largest managers in the fund-of-funds industry (1990-2016)
- Co-Chair of the Business Council at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business (2015-Present)
- Chairperson (2018-Present, following her election as Vice Chair in 2017) and member of the Executive Committee of the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Foundation and Foundation Board Executive Committee (2018-Present)
- Serves on the Executive Committee of the Chicago Network (2019-Present) and is on the Board and Executive Committee of The Economic Club of Chicago (2017-Present)
- Director of Thresholds, a Chicago based not-for-profit psychiatric rehabilitation organization (1991-Present)
- Serves on the Board of Bottom Line Chicago, is a Life Trustee of Fenwick High School, and is a member and past Chairperson of the University of Notre Dame Business Council
- An inaugural inductee into the InvestHedge Hall of Fame in 2015
- Recognized as one of "50 Leading Women in Hedge Funds," by the Hedge Fund Journal
- Honored by DePaul University as the "DePaul University Financial Executive of the Year" based on her lifetime of professional achievement
Current Public Company Directorships: None
Other Public Company Directorships during Past Five Years: None
Matthew J. Lustig
Director since 2011
Executive and Investment Committees
Skills and Qualifications: Matthew J. Lustig has extensive experience in investing in real estate companies and assets domestically and internationally, including seniors housing, and advising on real estate and corporate finance, capital structure, mergers and acquisitions and strategic transactions.
Business Experience:
- Managed all North American Investment Banking (2012-2019 as Head, now Chairman) and Head of Real Estate and Lodging (1989-Present) at Lazard Frères & Co. LLC.
- Oversaw Real Estate Investment businesses of Lazard and successor entities as CEO; Served as board member of several public and private portfolio investments of managed funds.
- Oversaw creation of and investments in Atria Senior Living, Inc. (2004-2011)
- Chairman of the Executive Committee, Zell/Lurie Real Estate Center at The Wharton School
- Member of the MBA Real Estate Advisory Board at Columbia Business School Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate
- Member of various industry organizations and served on the Board of Pension Real Estate Association.
- Member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Board of Advisors of the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.
Current Public Company Directorships: Boston Properties, Inc. (NYSE: BXP)
Other Public Company Directorships during Past Five Years: None
Richard I. Gilchrist
Director since 2011
Compensation (Chair) and Investment (Chair) Committees
Skills and Qualifications: Richard I. Gilchrist has a strong background in real estate, strategy, law and executive compensation and has served as chief executive and founder of several major public and private REITs and real estate operating companies with investments throughout the United States.
Business Experience:
- President of The Irvine Company's Investment Properties Group and a member of the Office of the Chairman (2006-2011), guiding all aspects of The Irvine Company's office, retail, resort and apartment properties in Southern California and Silicon Valley, including development, marketing and management
- Senior Advisor to The Irvine Company, responsible for acquisitions and other investments; The Irvine Company is a 140-year-old privately held company known throughout the world as a best-of-class master planner and long-term owner, investor and operator of a large and diversified real estate portfolio (2011-Present)
- Served as President and Co-Chief Executive of Maguire Properties, Inc., overseeing significant growth in the company's portfolio, through acquisitions and development, and spearheaded its successful initial public offering in 2003 (2002-2006)
- Served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Commonwealth Atlantic Properties, a privately-held REIT, where he managed the planning and entitlement of an 11 million square foot mixed-use project (1997-2002)
- Serves on The Advisory Board of Preferred Office Growth Fund (2019-Present)
- Member of the Whittier College Board of Trustees and the UCLA School of Law Board of Advisors.
- Served as a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of CommonWealth Partners, LLC, an advisor and venture partner with the California Public Employees' Retirement System, and a senior partner of Maguire Thomas Partners, a national real estate developer and operator.
Current Public Company Directorships:
- Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, Inc. (non-traded)
- Chairman of Spirit Realty Capital, Inc. (NYSE: SRC)
Other Public Company Directorships during Past Five Years:
- BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: BMR) (2007-2014)
- TIER REIT, Inc. (NYSE: TIER) (2013-2019, Chairman 2016-2019)
Marguerite M. Nader
Director since 2020
Marguerite M. Nader
Director since 2020
Skills and Qualifications: Marguerite M. Nader is an accomplished real estate investment trust (REIT) CEO with deep real estate and finance experience, strategic insight and a strong focus on performance.
Business Experience:
- President and Chief Executive Officer of Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. (NYSE: ELS), a REIT that owns and operates more than 400 high-quality resort communities across the United States and British Columbia (2013 – Present)
- More than 20 years with ELS, serving in a wide variety of roles including in asset management, sales and marketing, business development, finance and acquisitions
- Member of ELS's Management Committee and Board of Directors.
- Member of the Executive Board at Nareit (National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts)
Current Public Company Directorships: Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. (NYSE: ELS)
Other Public Company Directorships During Past Five Years: Liberty Property Trust (NYSE: LPT) 2017-2020
Sean P. Nolan
Director Since 2019
Audit Committee
Sean P. Nolan
Director Since 2019Audit Committee
Skills and Qualifications: Sean P. Nolan is an accomplished senior executive with more than 28 years of biopharmaceutical experience.
Business Experience:
- Former Chief Executive Officer and President at AveXis, Inc. (formerly NASDAQ: AVXS), a gene therapy company for the development of novel treatments for rare and life-threatening neurological diseases; taking the company through an IPO and building it into a fully-integrated global organization with research, clinical, regulatory, manufacturing and commercial capabilities until its acquisition by Novartis for $8.7 billion in 2018 (2015-2018)
- Chairman of Encoded Therapeutics, Inc., a gene therapy company (2018-Present), and Executive Chairman of Istari Oncology, Inc. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Aquinox Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: AQXP), a clinical biotechnology company focused on novel immune-oncology and immunotherapy platforms for the treatment of glioblastoma and a wide variety of tumors (2018-Present)
- Serves on the board of TouchDown Therapeutics (2019-Present)
- Former Chief Business Officer for InterMune, Inc., a company focused on the development of therapies for fibrotic disease (achquired by Roche, Inc. in 2015) (2013-2015)
- Held senior leadership positions including Chief Commercial Officer of Reata (2011-2012) and multiple executive positions at Ovation Pharmaceuticals, Inc., as well as president of Lundbeck, Inc.'s U.S. affiliate after acquiring Ovation in 2009 (2004-2009)
Current Public Company Directorships: Neoleukin Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: NLTX)
Other Public Company Directorships during Past Five Years: Aquinox Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: AQXP)
Walter C. Rakowich
Director since 2016
Audit (Chair) Committee
Walter C. Rakowich
Director since 2016Audit (Chair) Committee
Skills and Qualifications: Walter C. Rakowich is a recognized leader in the real estate industry with extensive executive experience and strong skills in strategy, accounting and financial reporting, international operations, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and corporate finance.
Business Experience:
- Former Chief Executive Officer of Prologis, Inc. (NYSE: PLD) (2008-2011) and Co-Chief Executive Officer following its merger with AMB Property Corporation (2011-2012)
- Held a number of senior management positions at Prologis, including Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer, President and Chief Operating Officer (1994-2008)
- Member of the Prologis Board (2005-2012)
- Served as a partner and principal with real estate provider Trammell Crow Company (1985-1993)
- Serves on the Board of Trustees at Pennsylvania State University and serves as Chairman of its Audit and Risk Committee (2013-Present)
- Chairman of the Board of Colorado UpLift and a Board member of the Alliance for School Choice in Education (ACE), two not-for-profits focused on educating at-risk children in the inner city (2003-Present)
- Served on the Board of the CEO Forum (2003-2017) and Global Food Exchange (2013-2018)
Current Public Company Directorships:
- Lead Director of Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: HST)
- Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE: IRM)
Other Public Company Directorships during Past Five Years: None
Walter C. Rakowich
Director since 2016
Audit (Chair) Committee
Skills and Qualifications: Walter C. Rakowich is a recognized leader in the real estate industry with extensive executive experience and strong skills in strategy, accounting and financial reporting, international operations, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and corporate finance.
Business Experience:
- Former Chief Executive Officer of Prologis, Inc. (NYSE: PLD) (2008-2011) and Co-Chief Executive Officer following its merger with AMB Property Corporation (2011-2012)
- Held a number of senior management positions at Prologis, including Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer, President and Chief Operating Officer (1994-2008)
- Member of the Prologis Board (2005-2012)
- Served as a partner and principal with real estate provider Trammell Crow Company (1985-1993)
- Serves on the Board of Trustees at Pennsylvania State University and serves as Chairman of its Audit and Risk Committee (2013-Present)
- Chairman of the Board of Colorado UpLift and a Board member of the Alliance for School Choice in Education (ACE), two not-for-profits focused on educating at-risk children in the inner city (2003-Present)
- Served on the Board of the CEO Forum (2003-2017) and Global Food Exchange (2013-2018)
Current Public Company Directorships:
- Lead Director of Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: HST)
- Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE: IRM)
Other Public Company Directorships during Past Five Years: None
Sean P. Nolan
Director Since 2019
Audit Committee
Skills and Qualifications: Sean P. Nolan is an accomplished senior executive with more than 28 years of biopharmaceutical experience.
Business Experience:
- Former Chief Executive Officer and President at AveXis, Inc. (formerly NASDAQ: AVXS), a gene therapy company for the development of novel treatments for rare and life-threatening neurological diseases; taking the company through an IPO and building it into a fully-integrated global organization with research, clinical, regulatory, manufacturing and commercial capabilities until its acquisition by Novartis for $8.7 billion in 2018 (2015-2018)
- Chairman of Encoded Therapeutics, Inc., a gene therapy company (2018-Present), and Executive Chairman of Istari Oncology, Inc. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Aquinox Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: AQXP), a clinical biotechnology company focused on novel immune-oncology and immunotherapy platforms for the treatment of glioblastoma and a wide variety of tumors (2018-Present)
- Serves on the board of TouchDown Therapeutics (2019-Present)
- Former Chief Business Officer for InterMune, Inc., a company focused on the development of therapies for fibrotic disease (achquired by Roche, Inc. in 2015) (2013-2015)
- Held senior leadership positions including Chief Commercial Officer of Reata (2011-2012) and multiple executive positions at Ovation Pharmaceuticals, Inc., as well as president of Lundbeck, Inc.'s U.S. affiliate after acquiring Ovation in 2009 (2004-2009)
Current Public Company Directorships: Neoleukin Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: NLTX)
Other Public Company Directorships during Past Five Years: Aquinox Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: AQXP)
Marguerite M. Nader
Director since 2020
Skills and Qualifications: Marguerite M. Nader is an accomplished real estate investment trust (REIT) CEO with deep real estate and finance experience, strategic insight and a strong focus on performance.
Business Experience:
- President and Chief Executive Officer of Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. (NYSE: ELS), a REIT that owns and operates more than 400 high-quality resort communities across the United States and British Columbia (2013 – Present)
- More than 20 years with ELS, serving in a wide variety of roles including in asset management, sales and marketing, business development, finance and acquisitions
- Member of ELS's Management Committee and Board of Directors.
- Member of the Executive Board at Nareit (National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts)
Current Public Company Directorships: Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. (NYSE: ELS)
Other Public Company Directorships During Past Five Years: Liberty Property Trust (NYSE: LPT) 2017-2020
Robert D. Reed
Director since 2008
Executive, Investment and Nominating Committees
Robert D. Reed
Director since 2008Executive, Investment and Nominating Committees
Skills and Qualifications: Robert D. Reed has a strong background in healthcare finance and operations, accounting and financial reporting, managing capital intensive operations and strategic planning, as well as leading not-for-profit organizations.
Business Experience:
- Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Sutter Health, a family of not-for-profit hospitals and physicians organizations in northern California, until his retirement on January 1, 2015 (1997-2015)
- Held various finance positions within Sutter Health and its affiliates (1996-1997)
- Served as Chief Financial Officer, Alta Bates Health System (1990-1995) and VHA Enterprises (1986-1988)
- Served as an investment banker specializing in healthcare finance for hospital systems at various national financial firms, including Eastdil (1976-1980), Paine Webber (1980-1982) and American Health Capital (1982-1986)
- Current serves as an Advisor to Halo Diagnostics, a privately-held healthcare technology company (2020-Present) and serves on the Board of U.C. Davis Health National Advisory Board (2019-Present)
- Previously served on the Board of The Metta Fund a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the health and wellness of San Francisco's aging population
Current Public Company Directorships: None
Other Public Company Directorships during Past Five Years: None
James D. Shelton
Director since 2008
Presiding Director since 2016
Compensation, Executive (Chair) and Nominating (Chair) Committees
James D. Shelton
Director since 2008Presiding Director since 2016
Compensation, Executive (Chair) and Nominating (Chair) Committees
Skills and Qualifications: James D. Shelton has more than 30 years of extensive executive experience in the healthcare industry, with strong skills in hospital administration and finance, managing capital-intensive operations, mergers and acquisitions, strategy, executive compensation, government relations and corporate governance on real estate and corporate finance, capital structure, mergers and acquisitions and strategic transactions.
Business Experience:
- Non-executive Chairman of the Board of Omnicare, Inc. (formerly NYSE: OCR) ("Omnicare"), a pharmaceutical care provider, until it was acquired in 2015 (2010-2015)
- Interim Chief Executive Officer of Omnicare (2010-2011)
- Served as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Triad Hospitals, Inc. (formerly NYSE: TRI) ("Triad"), an owner and manager of hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers (1999-2007)
- Before leading the formation and spin-off of Triad from Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation (now known as HCA Inc.) ("HCA"), Shelton was President of the Pacific Group of HCA (1998-1999) and President of the Central Group of HCA (1994-1998)
- Previously served as an Executive Vice President of National Medical Enterprises (now known as Tenet Healthcare Corporation) (1991-1994)
- Previously served on the Boards of Optimal IMX, Inc., the Federation of American Hospitals and the American Hospital Association.
Current Public Company Directorships: None
Other Public Company Directorships during Past Five Years:
- Lead Director of Envision Healthcare Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EVHC) (2015-2018)
- Omnicare, Inc. (formerly NYSE: OCR) (2007- 2015)
James D. Shelton
Director since 2008
Presiding Director since 2016
Compensation, Executive (Chair) and Nominating (Chair) Committees
Skills and Qualifications: James D. Shelton has more than 30 years of extensive executive experience in the healthcare industry, with strong skills in hospital administration and finance, managing capital-intensive operations, mergers and acquisitions, strategy, executive compensation, government relations and corporate governance on real estate and corporate finance, capital structure, mergers and acquisitions and strategic transactions.
Business Experience:
- Non-executive Chairman of the Board of Omnicare, Inc. (formerly NYSE: OCR) ("Omnicare"), a pharmaceutical care provider, until it was acquired in 2015 (2010-2015)
- Interim Chief Executive Officer of Omnicare (2010-2011)
- Served as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Triad Hospitals, Inc. (formerly NYSE: TRI) ("Triad"), an owner and manager of hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers (1999-2007)
- Before leading the formation and spin-off of Triad from Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation (now known as HCA Inc.) ("HCA"), Shelton was President of the Pacific Group of HCA (1998-1999) and President of the Central Group of HCA (1994-1998)
- Previously served as an Executive Vice President of National Medical Enterprises (now known as Tenet Healthcare Corporation) (1991-1994)
- Previously served on the Boards of Optimal IMX, Inc., the Federation of American Hospitals and the American Hospital Association.
Current Public Company Directorships: None
Other Public Company Directorships during Past Five Years:
- Lead Director of Envision Healthcare Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EVHC) (2015-2018)
- Omnicare, Inc. (formerly NYSE: OCR) (2007- 2015)
Robert D. Reed
Director since 2008
Executive, Investment and Nominating Committees
Skills and Qualifications: Robert D. Reed has a strong background in healthcare finance and operations, accounting and financial reporting, managing capital intensive operations and strategic planning, as well as leading not-for-profit organizations.
Business Experience:
- Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Sutter Health, a family of not-for-profit hospitals and physicians organizations in northern California, until his retirement on January 1, 2015 (1997-2015)
- Held various finance positions within Sutter Health and its affiliates (1996-1997)
- Served as Chief Financial Officer, Alta Bates Health System (1990-1995) and VHA Enterprises (1986-1988)
- Served as an investment banker specializing in healthcare finance for hospital systems at various national financial firms, including Eastdil (1976-1980), Paine Webber (1980-1982) and American Health Capital (1982-1986)
- Current serves as an Advisor to Halo Diagnostics, a privately-held healthcare technology company (2020-Present) and serves on the Board of U.C. Davis Health National Advisory Board (2019-Present)
- Previously served on the Board of The Metta Fund a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the health and wellness of San Francisco's aging population
Current Public Company Directorships: None
Other Public Company Directorships during Past Five Years: None
Longtime Leadership in Board Diversity
Ventas has long placed a priority on gender diversity at the Board level, and has maintained at least two female Board members since 2001, including Chairman and CEO Debra A. Cafaro. We have earned distinct honors as a “Winning” company on the 2020 Women on Boards Gender Diversity Index and as a Corporate Champion by the Women’s Forum of New York. Diversity within the board is critical in bringing together varied perspectives and complementary experiences, and has been shown to have a demonstrable impact on business performance.1
Board Membership Overview
- Hunt, V., Yee, L., Prince, S., Dixon-Fyle, S. McKinsey & Company. “Delivering through Diversity.” January 2018. www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/delivering-through-diversity.