Gerald J. Ford is one of the nation's most accomplished financial services executives. He has bought, sold and run banking businesses and other financial services companies for 30 years. Mr. Ford was Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Golden State Bancorp, a holding company whose primary asset was its indirect ownership of California Federal Bank, from September 1998 until it was sold to Citigroup in November 2002 for approximately $6 billion.

Mr. Ford currently serves as Chairman of the Board of First Acceptance Corporation (formerly known as Liberte Investors) and of Triad Financial, and is also a director of Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold, Inc. and McMoRan Exploration Co.