William R. Gruver
William R. Gruver joined Bucknell University in January, 1993, when he retired as a general partner after a 20 year career at Goldman, Sachs & Co., the international investment banking firm. As the Howard I. Scott Clinical Professor of Global Commerce, Strategy and Leadership, he is teaching courses in investments, investment banking, strategy, international relations and leadership. At the 2009 commencement ceremony he received the Lindback Award for distinguished teaching. His thinking has been published by (among others) Directorship Magazine, The Financial Times, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The New Republic, The Association of Governing Boards (AGB), The Patriot-News, Cornell University's Johnson School, Finanz und Wirtschaft, the Holocaust Centre (Beth Shalom), Physician Executive and Public Radio International.
At Goldman Sachs, Bill was named Chief Administrative Officer of the equities division of the firm when it was struggling to overcome the effects of the October, 1987, Stock Market Crash. Under his leadership, the division reorganized and redeployed its people and capital. Internationalization, decentralization with accountability and vastly enhanced use of technology were critical components of the successful turnaround that made his division one of the most profitable areas in each of the firm's three (up to that time) most profitable years. As evidenced by its 1992 listing in the "100 Best Companies To Work For", this return to profitability was accomplished without sacrificing the "espirit" in which Goldman Sachs prides itself.
Before Goldman Sachs, Bill served in the nuclear submarine force of the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. Lieutenant Gruver was awarded a Commanding Officer's letter of recognition for extraordinary achievement, the Polaris Patrol Pin and the Meritorious Unit Commendation, as well as his submarine qualification "dolphins" and national defense medal.
Bill received his MBA from Columbia University in 1968, and his A.B. (with distinction) from Dartmouth College in 1966. He is honored to be listed in Marquis' Who's Who in the World. He remains active in finance and business as a board member of Diversified Information Technologies (an international document processing firm), Hirtle, Callaghan & Co. (a $20 Billion Investment Advisor), TheStreet.com (chairman of the compensation committee for a publicly traded publisher of financial and investment advice), and TBIC Asset Management (a Zurich based investment advisor). His charitable activities include board memberships at Geisinger Health System, the Lymphoma Foundation, the Eagles Mere Historic Village and Eagles Mere Community Church. He is also a national arbitrator of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. His past responsibilities include three terms as Mayor of Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania, from 1994-2005, trustee and member of the executive committee at Berea College, president of the Eagles Mere Foundation, founder of Bucknell Harvest (a volunteer group that now runs a soup kitchen), former chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Woodbridge (NJ) Developmental Center and a member of the board of Cornell University's Park Leadership Program.
