Biography

Michael Zacharia has served as a member of the Board since December 2020. Mr. Zacharia is an executive coach and consultant to top executives in Fortune 150 companies and significant privately held companies as well as leaders of prominent non-profits, institutions of higher education, and families of means. Michael also conducts private mediations and teaches Cross-cultural Negotiations and Dispute Resolution as Adjunct Professor of Law at the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Pepperdine University School of Law.

Michael retired in July, 2007 after twelve years as Executive Vice President for Business Development, General Counsel and Secretary of DFS Group Limited, the world’s largest travel retail company. Prior to joining DFS, Michael was a partner for seven years in a large and nationally renowned Washington D.C. law firm. Previously, Michael was a litigation partner in the largest law firm in Sacramento, California. In 1988, Michael was appointed by President Reagan and confirmed by the Senate as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration. In 1981, Michael was selected by a Presidential Commission as one of 14 White House Fellows and served as Special Assistant in the office of the United States Secretary of State.

Michael has served on the Board of Directors of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (NYSE: MSO). He currently serves on the Advisory Board for the Center for Advanced Coaching. Michael was Co-Director of the Pacis Project on Faith Based Diplomacy, which was a joint venture between Pepperdine University and the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy in Washington, D.C. The Pacis Project was the recipient of the 2011 Peacemaker of the Year Award for its work in the Middle East.