NEW YORK, May 02, 2007 — The American Arbitration Association (AAA), the world’s leading provider of conflict management and dispute resolution services, announced at its annual meeting on April 30, 2007 the election of John M. Townsend of Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP as Chairperson of its Board of Directors, and of Joia M. Johnson of HanesBrands Inc. as Chairperson of its Executive Committee.
As Chairperson of the Board, Mr. Townsend serves as the Board’s representative, consulting with and advising the President on policies drafted by the Board. Mr. Townsend most recently served as Chairperson of the AAA’s Executive Committee.
As Chairperson of the Executive Committee, Ms. Johnson serves as the Executive Committee’s representative, consulting with and advising the President on policies drafted by the Executive Committee.
In addition, both Mr. Townsend and Ms. Johnson, in their newly elected capacities, are officers of the AAA and participate on other Board committees.
Mr. Townsend is a Partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Hughes Hubbard and Reed LLP and Chair of that firm’s Arbitration & ADR Group. His practice focuses on international disputes, including litigation, arbitration, and mediation, as well as antitrust counseling. Mr. Townsend is ranked in the first tier by Chambers Global 2006 as one of the top ten international arbitration lawyers in the world. He is also listed as one of the “top 20 arbitration specialists” in the world by Cross-Border Quarterly. Mr. Townsend received his BA from Yale University, cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, and his JD from Yale Law School.
Ms. Johnson is Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of HanesBrands Inc. and is responsible for overseeing the legal and corporate social responsibility functions of the corporation. She has more than 20 years of legal and business experience, including creation and development of corporate law departments and management oversight of real estate, construction, risk management and human resources. Ms. Johnson received her BA from Duke University, her MBA from Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, and her JD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law.
About the American Arbitration Association
The global leader in conflict management since 1926, the American Arbitration Association is a not-for-profit, public service organization committed to the resolution of disputes through the use of arbitration, mediation, conciliation, negotiation, democratic elections and other voluntary procedures. In 2006, more than 137,000 cases were filed with the Association in a full range of matters including commercial, construction, labor, employment, insurance, international and claims program disputes. Through 29 offices in the United States, Ireland and Mexico, the AAA provides a forum for the hearing of disputes, rules and procedures and a roster of impartial experts to resolve cases. Find more information online at www.adr.org.
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Contact:
Wayne Kessler, Vice President, Corporate Communications
American Arbitration Association
(212) 716-3975
kesslerw@adr.org
