James MacDonald

1948 - 2016

MacDonald, James R. .
James Randall MacDonald ("Randy") of Greenwich, Connecticut, passed away on Friday, September 2, 2016 after a long and very courageous battle. He is survived by his wife Kathy, sister Gail, daughter Megan, her husband Dawson, and beloved grandsons Winfield and Charles. He was 67 years old.
Mr. MacDonald served as the Senior Vice President of Human Resources for IBM Corporation for 13 years, reporting to Louis Gerstner, Samuel Palmisano, and Ginni Rometty during their tenures as IBM Chairman, CEO and President.
Prior to joining IBM, Randy held positions of increasing responsibility with GTE (ultimately, Verizon Communications) for 17 years before serving as the Executive Vice President of Human Resources and Administration. Prior to GTE, he held human resources positions at Ingersoll-Rand Co. and Sterling Drug, Inc. He received a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in industrial relations from St. Francis University.
Mr. MacDonald received numerous awards and recognitions for his contributions to the field of Human Resources during his career. He was the first executive to twice receive the Distinguished Human Resources Executive Award from the Academy of Management, in both 2004 and 2009. In 2011, he was named one of only 13 Distinguished Fellows of the National Academy of Human Resources, the profession's highest honor.
In addition, Randy was a frequent guest speaker and lecturer at numerous colleges and universities, focusing on organizational change and Human Resources. He testified before Congress on a wide range of Human Resources issues, and was a member of a Presidential Commission.
Randy served on the Board of Directors for Time Inc., Delphi Corporation, and was a former member of the board of Covance. Additionally, he was a member of the Board of the National Academy of Human Resources, a past chair of the Cornell University Center for Advanced Human Resources Study, the Personnel Roundtable, and the HR Policy Association. He was a Trustee of Bucknell University, and the US Ski and Snowboard Foundation.
Mr. MacDonald and his family were avid skiers at Windham Mountain in Windham, NY. Following his retirement from IBM in 2011, he became the majority owner of Windham Mountain Partners, and was the Managing Partner and CEO of its resort operations. Randy was also a lifelong golfer, and enjoyed the sport with many close friends at Winged Foot Country Club, Nantucket Golf Club, and Whippoorwill Country Club.
Randy was a devoted husband, a loving father, and an adoring grandfather. To him, his family was always the highest priority. He will be dearly missed.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in his memory.