Joseph Robert Wright, Jr. (born 1938) works in business and used to work in the United States' government.
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Wright is Vice Chairman of the Board and Director of Scientific Games Corporation (Nasdaq symbol: SGMS), a provider of lottery, pari-mutuel racing, and gaming services, including the creation and operation of games for government lotteries, to countries, states/provinces, and to gaming-related corporations around the world. Scientific Games also is a major supplier of secure prepaid phone cards to the telecommunications industry. In April, 2008, Scientific Games announced that Wright will become the company's Chief Executive Officer in January, 2009. Wright also serves on the Board of Directors of Federal Signal Corporation.
Previously, he was Chairman of the Board and a Director of Intelsat, the world's largest provider of geosynchronous satellite communication services. He was CEO and a Director of PanAmSat Corporation, a somewhat smaller competitor, prior to its acquisition by Intelsat in 2006, and was instrumental in negotiating the merger of the two companies and the subsequent sale of a controlling interest in the expanded Intelsat to a British-based investment firm, BC Partners, for $4.6 billion in cash in 2007.
Prior to joining PanAmSat in 2001, he was Vice Chairman of Terremark Worldwide Incorporated, which principally provides internet infrastructure and managed services. Wright was also Chairman and Director of GRC International Inc., which provides professional and technical services primarily to the Department of Defense and others. He also served a Co-Chairman and Director of Baker & Taylor Holdings Inc., an international distribution company (books, video and software) and e-commerce company that was majority owned by the Carlyle Group.
Wright held various positions with W. R. Grace and Company, Grace Energy Company, and Grace Environmental Company from 1989 to 1994 (Director, EVP, President, Vice Chairman, Chairman). Prior and after his posts with Grace, he held several senior positions and advisory roles for the United States government (including serving in President Ronald Reagan's cabinet) during several administrations since the early 1980s. Before that, Wright held senior posts in the private financial sector.
Previous to Grace, he was Deputy Director then Director of the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under President Ronald Reagan, serving in the Cabinet and the Executive Office of the President of the United States from 1982 to 1989.
He was also Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Commerce, from 1981 to 1982 and was later on the President’s Export Council as Chairman of the Export Control Subcommittee.
Wright's public service also included previous positions in the Federal Departments of Agriculture and Commerce, including acting Assistant Secretary for Economic Affairs responsible for developing the GDP.
Before the 1980s, Wright was President of Citicorp Retail Services and Retail Consumer Services, credit card subsidiaries of Citibank.
He began his career at Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. where he became a Partner and the Division Head of the Growth Services consulting business after receiving an MIA (Yale University) and a BS (Colorado School of Mines).
In addition to the Boards mentioned above, Wright also currently serves on the Board of Advisors of AT&T Government Markets, Titan Corporation and Terremark Worldwide Inc.
Wright is a former member of the Boards of Directors of Travelers Group, Harcourt Brace Janovich, and Hampton University.
He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Council for Excellence in Government, Chief Executives Organization, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, President Bush's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC), the Federal Communications Commission’s Network Reliability and Interoperability Council and the New York Economic Club.
He received the Distinguished Citizens Award from President Reagan.
Wright received a Masters Degree in Industrial Administration from Yale University and a Professional Engineering Degree from the Colorado School of Mines.
He lives with his wife, Ellen, in New York City.
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| Preceded by James C. Miller III |
Director of the Office of Management and Budget Served under: Ronald Reagan 1988–1989 |
Succeeded by Richard Darman |
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