Independent Directors Council Re-elects Susan Kerley as Chair; Paul Freeman Named Vice Chair

Elects Two New Governing Council Members

Washington, DC, October  3, 2013 - The Governing Council of the Independent Directors Council (IDC) has re-elected Susan B. Kerley as IDC’s chair for a second year and elected Paul Freeman as its Vice Chair.

Kerley, who has served in that role for the past year, is an independent director of Legg Mason Partners Funds and MainStay Funds.  Freeman is an independent director of DWS Funds.

“I am honored to be named Vice Chair of the IDC,” said Freeman. “The Council is a critical resource for independent directors in their important work providing fund oversight on behalf of fund shareholders. I look forward to engaging with Susan Kerley, the IDC Governing Council, and IDC’s professional staff in serving the independent director community.”

Kerley said, “Paul Freeman brings excellent experience as an independent director to his new position as IDC’s Vice Chair. I welcome the opportunity to work with him to shape the Council’s activities and resources for independent directors.  I would also like to thank and recognize Dorothy Berry for her outstanding leadership as IDC Chair Emerita. We are very grateful for the opportunity to continue working with her as a member of the Governing Council.”

IDC Managing Director Amy Lancellotta added, “It will be my great pleasure to work with Paul Freeman as Vice Chair and to continue working closely with Susan Kerley as Chair. I am confident that Paul will be effective in his new role, as he brings to bear his depth of knowledge and wide range of experience. His perspective will complement Susan’s excellent leadership at IDC as we strive to provide high quality educational and other services for the independent director community.”

The Council recently elected two independent directors to serve two-year terms:

• Dawn M. Vroegop, MET Investors Series Trust, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Metropolitan Series Fund, Inc.
• Ronald E. Toupin, Jr., Guggenheim Funds

The full membership of the IDC Governing Council is available on the IDC website.

For more information about the Independent Directors Council, go to www.idc.org or contact Amy Lancellotta, Managing Director, at 202-326-5824 or amy@ici.org.