Bob Wright has had a diversified career in general management, marketing, and broadcasting. He served as vice chairman of General Electric and president, CEO, and chairman of NBC and NBCUniversal from 1986 to 2007. Prior to that, he served as president of General Electric Financial Services and before that as president of Cox Cable Communications.

Bob is a senior advisor of THL Capital, CEO and Chairman of the Palm Beach Civic Association and serves on the board of directors of Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation, LLC; AMC Networks Inc.; and is a trustee of New York Presbyterian Hospital. He is a former member of the executive committee of Rand Corporation and a former director of EMI Group Global Ltd.

In 2005, Bob and his late wife, Suzanne, co-founded Autism Speaks, the world’s leading autism research and advocacy organization. Since its inception, Autism Speaks has committed more than $570 million to its mission—the majority in science and medical research—and has grown into the world’s leading autism advocacy organization. Bob has played a leadership role in national autism legislation and continues to advocate for federal funding for programs related to treatments and services for individuals with autism. The Wrights have been widely recognized for their advocacy and philanthropy.

In 2008, the Wrights were named to the Heroes and Pioneers category of the TIME 100, the magazine’s annual list of the most influential people. The Wrights also received the following joint recognitions:

• First-ever Double Helix Award for Corporate Leadership (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
• NYU Child Advocacy Award
• Castle Connolly National Health Leadership Award
• American Ireland Fund Humanitarian Award
• Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy 2011 Leadership Award
• Lifetime Achievement Award (Moffly Media’s Light a Fire)
• Eugene M. Lang Lifetime Achievement Award (I Have A Dream Foundation)

In 2013, they received a Dean’s Medal from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health for Global Leadership in Autism Research and Advocacy. In addition, Bob and Suzanne Wright received honorary degrees from St. John’s University, St. Joseph’s University, Fairfield University and UMass Medical School. Bob Wright graduated from the College of the Holy Cross, in Worcester, Mass., and the Law School of the University of Virginia.