Russell E. Palmer is the majority shareholder, chairman, and CEO of The Palmer Group, a corporate investment firm in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Before founding his own firm, he served as dean of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania for seven years and previously served for 10 years as managing partner and CEO of Touche Ross & Co. (now Deloitte & Touche), an accounting and consulting firm. He became CEO of Touche Ross at 37, the youngest person to attain that position in a “Big Eight” firm.
After 27 years in the accounting and consulting profession, Palmer became the 10th dean of the Wharton School, the first to come from the private sector. While at Wharton, he was instrumental in developing a leadership course for MBA students, attracted over 100 new faculty members, built a new executive education program and complex, and raised over $120 million for the School. In his current career, he has acquired over 30 companies, with the majority being in the educational field.
Palmer graduated with a BA from Michigan State University and has received several honorary degrees. He has written and lectured extensively. His articles and essays have appeared in BusinessWeek, The New York Times, the Journal of Accountancy, and other publications. He is the author of Ultimate Leadership.
Palmer has served on numerous New York Stock Exchange boards, including those of Honeywell International, Inc., Verizon Communications, Inc., The May Department Stores Company, and The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. He is a trustee emeritus of the University of Pennsylvania, a former trustee of the National Constitution Center, and served on the board of Main Line Health. He currently serves on the board of The Mann Center for the Performing Arts and is a Member of the Smithsonian National Board.
