Mr. Ralph Whitworth is a founder and principal of Relational Investors LLC. It is a $2.2 billion investment fund that focuses on strategic block investments. He is renowned for his ability to guide companies during crisis and “turnaround” situations. With nearly a couple of decade’s experience in business and corporate board activities, Mr. Whitworth is respected by the business community. He served as chairman of the board of Waste Management, Inc. in 1999 where he was responsible for overall management of the company and was instrumental in replacing the company’s management team. Mr. Whitworth played a similar role at Apria Healthcare Group Inc. in 1998 and is still on the boards of Apria and Waste Management. Regarded as an expert on corporate governance matters, Mr. Whitworth has been invited to present his views before Congress, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the New York Stock Exchange Board and the Federal Reserve on corporate governance and shareholder rights matters. He has been on three blue ribbon committees sponsored by the National Association of Corporate Directors on director compensation and corporate governance.

From 1986 to 1994, he was the president of United Shareholders Association (pro bono). It was he who in 1989 authored the petition for rulemaking that led to a major overhaul in 1992 of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s shareholder communication and compensation disclosure rules. Mr. Whitworth served as president of development at United Thermal Corporation from 1989-1992. He served on that company’s board of directors until December of 1993 when the company was taken private. Mr. Whitworth served as assistant to the general partner at Mesa Limited Partnership from 1985 to 1988, when it was the nation’s largest independent oil and gas company. During his tenure there, he managed the executive staff, served on the company’s operating committee and participated in the company’s investments, acquisitions and financing activities. During 1981-1984, he served on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee staff.