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Betsy S. Atkins

Betsy S. Atkins
CEO
Baja Corp.
Coral Gables, Florida

Present Directorships Include:
Polycom: Chair Nominating & Governance Committee, Member Compensation Committee
Chico’s: Chair Nominating & Governance Committee, Member Executive Committee
SunPower: Chair Compensation Committee, Member Audit, Member Nominating & Governance Committee
Reynolds American: Member Compensation Committee, Member Nominating & Governance Committee

Betsy Atkins is a highly acclaimed public company Board Director and author. Betsy has served on some of the world’s most visible Global public company boards For 20 years, she has worked behind the scenes at companies like Lucent, HealthSouth, Secure Computing, and Paychex Corp.

Betsy started her business career as an entrepreneur co-founding several successful high tech companies including blockbuster Ascend Communications, a 5.4 billion dollar NASDAQ company.  Betsy is an effective operational driver, having been CEO three times dramatically scaling, building, and repositioning businesses resulting in acquisitions and public offerings. She has a strong international and operational perspective encompassing the full range of experience from explosive growth to restructuring.

Betsy has been known for her early stage venture capital firm Baja LLC’s technology investments in companies such as Yahoo and eBay.

Corporate Board experience covers industries including healthcare, manufacturing, financial services, technology, and consumer products. Betsy brings the knowledge of a hands-on entrepreneur on how to rapidly grow a company. Her knowledge in “go-to-market” global distribution channels is especially impactful. Betsy’s expertise in marketing, branding and messaging ranging from traditional media, to viral marketing has been key in helping companies effectively capture market share. Having served on emerging technology company boards, she focuses on making a measurable impact, accelerating the companies positioning, and elevating the management team to meet their potential.

Betsy’s publications in the Corporate Governance world including the Conference Board, National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), and Corporate Board Member. Betsy has also been nominated as Director of the Year by the NACD.

Currently serving on public company boards: Polycom, Inc., Chico’s FAS, and SunPower Corporation, and Reynolds American, Inc. Chairman, private company Third Screen Media, a mobile device advertising company. Advisor to British Telecom.

Academic Background and Organizational Affiliations:

University of Massachusetts, Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa & Trinity College Oxford
Faculty Member, National Association of Corporate Directors
Trustee, Florida International University
Presidential Appointee, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp.
Member, Council on Foreign Relations
Member, Nasdaq Nominating Committee