Corporate Governance

Linda A. Mills is former corporate vice president of operations for Northrop Grumman, a leading global security provider of advanced solutions for defense, intelligence, civil agency and commercial customers. At Northrop Grumman, Ms. Mills was responsible for driving effective operations to maximize performance, innovation and affordability. She was directly responsible for the company’s programs, quality, technology and engineering areas, aimed at improving the company’s profitability and competitive edge.

With her background in large scale, complex businesses, Ms. Mills brings significant general management and executive experience to our Board, including experience in technology, business transformation, cyber, strategic thinking and leadership skills from having served as president of a multi-billion dollar information technology business and as corporate vice president for operations at Northrop Grumman.

Ms. Mills was recognized as a 2017 Directorship honoree by NACD and is a frequent speaker on various board governance topics. Ms. Mills was named one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business by Fortune magazine and received the Federal 100 Award from Federal Computer Week, recognizing government and industry leaders who have played pivotal roles in the federal government IT community. Ms. Mills serves on the board of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and the board of visitors for the University of Illinois College of Engineering. In addition to Navient, Ms. Mills also serves on the board of directors of American International Group, Inc. (AIG).

Frederick Arnold has been a Navient director since August 2018. He previously held a series of senior financial positions at private equity-owned portfolio companies. Prior to these roles, Mr. Arnold spent 20 years as an investment banker, primarily at Lehman Brothers and Smith Barney, where he served as managing director and head of European corporate finance. He also serves as a board member of FS KKR, FS Investment Corporation II, FS Investment Corporation III, and FS Investment Corporation IV, as a board member of Syncora Holdings Ltd., and is a member of the post-emergence board of directors of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.

Edward Bramson is partner of Sherborne Investors Management LP and joined the Board in 2022. Mr. Bramson has extensive business experience as a Chief Executive Officer, including seven publicly traded companies in the consumer products, electronics and regulated financial services sectors. He co-founded Sherborne Investors in 1986. The firm manages private and public equity turnaround investments and is Navient’s largest shareholder. Mr. Bramson has worked successfully with people from diverse backgrounds, and brings to our Board valuable experience in creating long-term value for shareholders.

Anna Escobedo Cabral has been a Navient director since December 2014. She previously served as Treasurer of the United States of America from 2004 to 2009. In this role, she oversaw the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the U.S. Mint. In addition, she led the Treasury's community development and public outreach efforts, including financial education initiatives designed to increase financial literacy and remove barriers to Americans' success. From 2009 to 2018, Ms. Cabral served as senior advisor for external relations at the Inter-American Development Bank. She also has served as director of the Smithsonian Institution's Center for Latino Initiatives and CEO of the Hispanic Association of Corporate Responsibility. Ms. Cabral is a second-generation Mexican-American, whose parents labored in the fields of southern California. She has served as chair of the Financial Services Roundtable Retirement Security Council and is a member of MANA, a national Latina organization.

Larry A. Klane joined the Navient board in May 2019. He is a Co-Founding Principal at Pivot Investment Partners LLC, an investment firm founded in 2014 that is exclusively focused on financial technology and financial services companies. Prior to Pivot, Mr. Klane was the Global Financial Institutions Leader at Cerberus Capital Management. He joined Cerberus after serving as Chair and CEO of Korea Exchange Bank, a leading publicly-traded Korean commercial and retail bank. Mr. Klane was President of the Global Financial Services division of Capital One Financial Corporation from 2000 to 2008. He currently serves as a director of Nexi Group S.p.A, a leading privately held company in Italian payments, as well as Ethoca Limited, a privately held global network between issuers and merchants. He previously served on the Board of Directors of Verifone Systems, Inc. and Aozora Bank.

Michael Lawson has been a Navient director since August 2020. He is president and CEO of the Los Angeles Urban League. In 2013, he was nominated by President Obama to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization, a United Nations agency. Before that, Lawson served on the Board of Airport Commissioners for Los Angeles World Airports. From 1980 until his retirement in 2011, he practiced law at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. As a partner, he led the executive compensation and benefits group for the Los Angeles office as well as worked on a wide variety of issues, including structured finance transactions and proxy contests.

Jane J. Thompson is the chief executive officer of Jane J. Thompson Financial Services LLC, a management consulting firm, and a founding member of the Navient Board of Directors. Ms. Thompson has led multi-billion dollar organizations in financial services, most recently as president of Walmart Financial Services, a division of Walmart Stores, Inc. Previously, she led the Sears Credit, Sears Home Services, and Sears Online groups at Sears, Roebuck & Co., she served as a partner at McKinsey & Co. Inc., and in brand management and marketing at Procter & Gamble. She is also a director of OnDeck Capital, Inc. and Mitek Systems, Inc.

Laura S. Unger is a financial services advisor specializing in regulatory and legislative policy. Ms. Unger was a commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including six months as acting chairman of the SEC from 1997 to 2002. Previously, she served as counsel to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, and was an attorney in the enforcement division of the SEC. She has been a special advisor at Promontory Financial Group and was named as the independent consultant to JPMorgan for the global analyst conflict of interest settlement. Ms. Unger is a board member of the Children’s National Medical Center Foundation, and director of Nomura Securities and Nomura Global Financial Products. In addition to Navient, she also serves as director of two other public companies, CA Technologies and CIT Group.

David L. Yowan was named president and CEO of Navient on May 15, 2023. He has been a director of Navient since April 2017.

Dave previously was Executive Vice President and Corporate Treasurer of American Express. He brings over 40 years of experience in risk management, balance sheet management, funding and liquidity, and in integrating financial management with business strategy.

During his time at American Express, he played a key role in navigating the financial crisis of 2008-2009. He led a significant transformation of the company's funding profile and the transition of American Express into a bank holding company.

Prior to joining American Express in 1999, Dave spent time at Citicorp in its global consumer banking business and before that at the Ayco Corporation, now a part of Goldman Sachs.

Dave earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the College of William & Mary and a Master of Management from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University.