Private Company Director’s Directors to Watch 2026 highlights 29 significant and diverse directors who have contributed to and will continue to expand ongoing dialogue on board best practices and corporate governance excellence.
Richard Winston
SBJC Healthcare, Saint Luke’s Health System
Richard Winston is a seasoned board advisor and corporate governance leader with extensive experience overseeing multibillion-dollar enterprises, managing risk, and shaping strategic business and legal outcomes. As audit committee chair for a $12.6 billion health care company, he brings deep expertise in financial oversight, enterprise risk, cybersecurity, data privacy and AI-enabled transformation. He also serves as chief legal officer and corporate secretary of a global, multigenerational manufacturing company, partnering with the board on governance, compliance and long-term strategy.
With 25 years of boardroom experience, Winston has led governance modernization initiatives and advised directors and CEOs on strategic growth. His background includes 35 years as chief legal officer or general counsel at public and private multinational companies, including General Electric and Koch Industries.
Winston is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors and Private Directors Association.
Modern governance discipline. “Directors on the most effective boards commit to continuously strengthening governance through modern, forward-looking practices. This begins with building boards that reflect a thoughtful mix of skills, experience and diverse perspectives, and developing fluency across enterprise risks beyond just financial risks, including emerging technologies, AI, cybersecurity, geopolitics and executive security. High-performing boards invest in targeted education with external experts, use scenario planning to stress-test strategy and contingency plans, and require clear reporting and accountability. Above all, strong boards are grounded in trust, informed judgment and discipline, which is reinforced through regular self-evaluations, director reviews, purposeful team-building and meaningful engagement with senior leadership.”