John M. Fahey, Jr.

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John M. Fahey, Jr. became the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Geographic Society in 1998, succeeding Reg Murphy. Fahey also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees, as well as Chairman of its executive committee.

Fahey joined National Geographic in 1996 as the first president and chief executive officer of National Geographic Ventures, the nonprofit Society's separate, wholly owned, taxable subsidiary company that includes National Geographic Television & Film, Nationalgeographic.com, and National Geographic Maps. He became National Geographic's president and CEO in March, 1998.

During his tenure, Fahey has led an evolution of the National Geographic Society, including its entry into cable television with the National Geographic Channel, which airs in 27 languages and reaches more than 230 million homes in 151 countries; the international expansion of National Geographic magazine, now published in 32 language editions; the launch of National Geographic Adventure magazine and National Geographic Explorer classroom magazine; and the relaunch of "National Geographic Expeditions" travel program.

From 1989 until joining National Geographic, Fahey was chairman, president, and CEO of Time Life Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. Prior to that, he was executive vice president and chief operating officer of Time Life Books for three years.

Born in New York City, Fahey received his bachelor's degree in engineering from Manhattan College and his master's in business administration from the University of Michigan.

Fahey is on the board of directors of the Jason Foundation for Education, Johnson Outdoors Inc. and Exclusive Resorts, and is a member of the Newseum Advisory Committee. He represents National Geographic on the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO. He is also a partner in Capital Investors, which perpetuates the vitality of the Washington metropolitan area's technology-related businesses.

Fahey has been selected as one of Advertising Age's top 100 marketers and by Irish American magazine as one of the top 100 Irish Americans. He and his wife, Heidi, live in McLean, Va., with their children, Christopher, Kenneth, and Allison.