Ogunlesi takes leading role at Goldman

Goldman Sachs Group has named Adebayo O. Ogunlesi as lead director of its board after James Schiro retired to undergo treatment for multiple myeloma.
Ogunlesi, chairman of Global Infrastructure Partners who joined Goldman Sachs’s board in 2012, also will lead the corporate governance, nominating and public responsibilities committee, the New York-based company said today in a statement. Ogunlesi, Nigerian and 60, was previously head of the risk committee, a role that will be filled by Michele Burns.

Goldman Sachs gave expanded responsibilities to its lead independent director last year, including setting the board’s agenda and writing a letter to shareholders in the annual proxy statement, as part of an agreement with an investor to drop a proposal that called for an independent board chairman. Chief Executive Officer Lloyd C. Blankfein also serves as chairman.

“Jim Schiro defined what an effective lead director is through a strong model of corporate governance, and I intend to follow his extraordinary example,” Ogunlesi said in the statement.

Ogunlesi is also serves as chairman of African Finance Corporation.