Two Dickinson alumni, members of the college's Board of Trustees, recently received major promotions in the world of international finance. "This is very exciting news," said Dickinson president William Durden '71. "It is further evidence that a liberal arts education prepares one for this kind of success by developing the skills necessary to adapt to the constantly changing landscape that is world finance."

Marc Stern '65

Marc Stern '65, a political science and history major, was recently appointed Chairman of Société Généralé's Global Investment Management and Services North America unit with responsibility for the company's North American strategic initiatives, including its asset management, private banking, global security services, and brokerage and transfer agent businesses.

He had served as President of The TCW Group, an asset management firm. Société Généralé acquired a majority interest in TCW in 2001. Stern will serve as Vice-Chairman of TCW, a company which he helped grow from $20 billion in managed assets in 1990 to nearly $120 billion today. Société Généralé is one of the largest financial services groups in the euro-zone, employing 92,000 people in 21 counties and managed assets of over 298 billion euros.

"If anyone told me 40 years ago that I'd be asked to have strategic responsibility for the North American operations of a French bank, I wouldn't have believed it. My career has had many twists and turns and, at the core, the liberal arts education I received at Dickinson has allowed me to shift gears many times. The flexibility that a Dickinson education provides allows one to process information in a way that is 'useful' to whatever endeavor is undertaken."

Thomas L. Kalaris '76

Thomas L. Kalaris '76 majored in economics at Dickinson before attending the University of Chicago (MBA 1978). He, his wife and five children are making a transatlantic move as Kalaris assumes his role as Chief Executive of Barclays Wealth Management. Based in London, he will lead the company's efforts to leverage its U.K. leadership position for expansion throughout Europe, and beyond.

Kalaris had been the Chief Executive of Barclays Capital for the Americas, the firm's investment bank in New York City. Barclays manages over 74 billion pounds of customer funds in the Wealth Management division, and in its other businesses operates in over 60 countries and employs more than 78,000 people. Over 300-years old, the international financial services firm is primarily engaged in banking, investment banking and investment management.

"Growing up, I lived in Southeast Asia and my career has taken me all over the world. A Dickinson education develops in one the aptitude necessary for operating in the global marketplace. My field is not just about numbers - you have to understand and anticipate the effect of world events and trends on your business. A liberal arts education cultivates a curiosity to understand how the seemingly unrelated are connected and the skills to apply that knowledge usefully."

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