Donald B Marron

Donald B Marron

Donald B Marron is 69, but the light in his eyes still shines brightly and he's full of enthusiasm. The entrepreneurial nature and ambition that saw him through the creation of his first business at the age of 24 continue to drive him today. Marron is best known for building up securities firm PaineWebber and its subsequent sale to UBS in November 2000. After 23 years at PaineWebber, he negotiated the transaction with UBS's Marcel Ospel. "We were doing extremely well and we were very happy as an independent firm," Marron says.

"When I met Marcel Ospel, the chairman of UBS bank, we immediately had a connection because he understood our business." He maintains that the deal was good for PaineWebber's shareholders and clients. "The thing I'm most pleased with is that we were able to offer jobs to 95% of our people," he says.

Marron began his career at the age of 17 as a trainee at wealth management firm New York Trust Company and later worked at economist Lionel Edie's investment consulting firm.