William McNabb

William McNabb served as CEO of The Vanguard Group from 2008 to 2018, overseeing the firm's growth from approximately $1 trillion to $5 trillion in assets. He continued the low-cost investing mission established by Jack Bogle while expanding Vanguard's active management offerings and international presence. McNabb became a prominent voice for passive investor rights in corporate governance — arguing that as major long-term owners, Vanguard and similar firms have a responsibility to engage companies on governance issues rather than simply accepting management decisions. His leadership helped position Vanguard as not merely a passive index vehicle but an active steward of shareholder interests, engaging company boards on executive compensation, board composition, and climate risk disclosures while maintaining the low-fee structure that defined Vanguard's competitive identity.