February 08, 2009

Meg Whitman, 53, is one of the world’s most respected business leaders. Meg has earned a reputation as a smart, tough, problem solver, a collaborative team builder, and a proven job creator. In February 2009 Meg announced her intention to seek the Republican nomination for Governor of California.  Committed to rebuilding the state’s economy and creating jobs, reforming the budget process, championing public education, and with pride in the state’s diverse population, Meg is the right leader for this challenging time.

Leading eBay from 1998 to 2008, Meg helped the company grow from 30 employees and a little over $4 million in revenue to more than 15,000 employees, nearly $8 billion in revenue, and a network of 12 million users in California alone. Under Meg’s leadership, eBay expanded globally and developed a culture and infrastructure that turned eBay into an unparalleled business success story. Prior to her tenure at eBay; Meg distinguished herself in various leadership positions with Procter & Gamble, Bain & Company, Disney, Stride Rite Corporation, FTD, and Hasbro.

Meg is only one of seven women to be consistently ranked among the world’s most influential people by Time magazine.  The Wall Street Journal named her one of the “50 Women to Watch” in 2005; Fortune ranked her the most powerful woman in business in 2004 and 2005; and Business Week has included her on its list of the 25 most powerful business managers every year since 2000.

During the 2008 presidential primary campaign season, Governor Mitt Romney asked Meg to serve as his National Finance Co‐Chair; she helped raise more than $12 million in the Golden State. When Romney ended his campaign, Senator John McCain asked Meg to serve as National Co‐Chair for McCain‐Palin2008. In California, Meg has helped raise almost $8 million for the California Republican Party. She personally contributed to and participated in numerous Get Out the Vote efforts on behalf of congressional and legislative candidates. 

Meg received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Princeton University and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School. Her husband, Griff Harsh IV, is a neurosurgeon at Stanford University Medical Center.  Meg and Griff have two college‐age sons, Griff and Will.  The family lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.