John Thiel, an FSU alumnus and former Merrill Lynch executive, is a dynamic board director, trusted business advisor and visionary financial services CEO.
During his 28-year career with Merrill Lynch, Thiel served as head of U.S. Global Wealth Management, steering the iconic financial firm through a period of unprecedented change, including its acquisition by Bank of America and overseeing a $15 billion business with 23,000 employees.
Thiel currently serves on the boards of Decker Communications and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Investor Education Foundation, which promotes initiatives focused on improving the financial literacy of underserved populations.
Thiel, who earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from FSU, was inducted into the College of Business Alumni Hall of Fame after many years of service in a variety of capacities. A longtime advocate for curing cancer, he serves on the board of the V Foundation for Cancer Research and chairs the board's Don't Ever Give Up support organization.
In July 2018, Thiel joined My Next Season as a partner and senior adviser. His work involves strategy consulting and business development for the organization, which specializes in executive retirement and career transitions. He also advises and mentors not-for-profit CEOs in developing strategy and proactively responding to change.
Thiel is a frequent speaker and has presented at a variety of venues and made multiple appearances on FOX Business Network and CNBC. He was Florida State's spring commencement speaker in both 2014 and 2019 and served as a Charles A. Bruning Distinguished Speaker at the College of Business.