Mary Bush Biography and Net Worth

Mary K. Bush is internationally recognized for her expertise in international finance, banking, and corporate governance. She has served three U.S. Presidents in Presidential/political appointments and has held senior executive positions in private sector institutions. Innovations in corporate and sovereign finance have been hallmarks of Ms. Bush’s career in the private and public sectors where she developed cutting-edge transactions and business strategies that helped transform markets globally. Her achievements include leading the creation of new methods of financing for Fortune 500 companies and developing new funding structures at the IMF and World Bank for Emerging Market countries that agreed to free-market, business friendly reforms. Ms. Bush served as Chairman of a Presidential Commission, The HELP Commission, on transforming the nearly $30 billion of US foreign aid to be more supportive of investment in human capital and entrepreneurship. She was also appointed by the Secretary of the US Treasury Department to the US Treasury Advisory Committee on the Auditing Profession. With Ms. Bush’s global business acumen and extensive experience with government leaders worldwide, she brings a highly valued strategic perspective to her work on corporate boards. In 2012, she was selected as one of the NACD 100 top directors in the nation.

Since 1991, Ms. Bush has been Chairman of Bush International, LLC, a firm that advises governments on strengthening banking systems and capital markets and on strategies to support free enterprise.  The firm also advises corporate clients on financing and market development strategies. From 1994 to 1997, she also hosted “Markets and Technology,” a nationwide cable television program on global business and economic matters.  She is a frequent speaker on business and financial issues and has periodically been a guest commentator on financial market matters on PBS’s NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, CNN, CSPAN, Fox News Channel 8 and America’s Voice Network.

From 1989 to 1991, Ms. Bush was Managing Director (Chief Operating Officer) of the Federal Housing Finance Board - the oversight body for the nation’s twelve Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLB’s). Ms. Bush provided leadership on several challenges faced by the FHLB’s as the primary source of funding for the Savings & Loan industry. Her accomplishments included strengthening portfolio risk analysis and oversight, creating an affordable housing program, and developing a dividend policy to balance the FHLB’s stability with S & L cash needs. She also oversaw the monthly $1 billion capital market funding.

Prior to the Federal Housing Finance Board, Ms. Bush was the senior executive (Vice President, International Finance) at Fannie Mae for international financial market matters. Among her successes were major new institutional investors (including Central Banks) in Asia and Europe for Fannie Mae securities and the first mutual fund of Fannie Mae mortgage-backed securities (a $500 million transaction).

Ms. Bush was appointed by President Reagan, and confirmed by the Senate, in 1982 and in 1984 as United States Alternate Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Board. She led the creation of the Structural Adjustment Facility through which the IMF/World Bank lent several billion dollars to developing countries. During the 1980’s debt crisis, she led the reform of IMF accounting practices to incorporate GAAP in accounting for past due loans.

In 1982 and 1983, Ms. Bush was Executive Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of the US Treasury Department.  She worked with top management of the Treasury on sovereign debt problems and economic and banking issues.  In the 1970’s, she was with New York City banks - Bankers Trust, Citibank and Chase Manhattan. Of note was the first Private Placement by a commercial bank for a Fortune 500 acquisition financing.

Boards include Discover Financial Services, Marriott International, ManTech International and T. Rowe Price Group. Board committee service and/or Chairmanships: Audit, Finance, Compensation, Nominating and Governance and Pensions and Investments. Former Boards include The Pioneer Family of Mutual Funds, Texaco, RJ Reynolds, United Airlines, MGIC and Briggs & Stratton. Ms. Bush also serves on the US Advisory Board of the Global Leadership Foundation and is a member of the Kennedy Center Community Advisory Board.  She holds an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago and a B.A., Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude, from Fisk University. She was born in Birmingham, Alabama and resides in Chevy Chase, Maryland.