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Frances Townsend scaled e1663035060464 220x220 - Frances F. Townsend

Frances F. Townsend

Senior Counsel, Activision Blizzard

Bio Current as of January 25, 2024

Frances Fragos Townsend currently runs her own independent consulting business providing strategic advice to Boards and CEOs. Prior to that, she served as the Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary at Activision Blizzard. From 2010 through 2020, Ms. Townsend worked at MacAndrews & Forbes Inc., a private investment firm, and concluded her tenure there as Vice Chairman, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer. In her ten years there, she focused internally on financial, legal and personnel issues, as well as international, compliance and business development across MacAndrews’ portfolio companies. From April 2009 to October 2010, Ms. Townsend was a corporate partner with the law firm of Baker Botts, LLP. From 2004 to 2008, Ms. Townsend served as Assistant to President George W. Bush for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism and chaired the Homeland Security Council. She also served as Deputy National Security Advisor for Combatting Terrorism from May 2003 to May 2004. Ms. Townsend spent 13 years at the U.S. Department of Justice under the administrations of President George H. W. Bush, President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush. Ms. Townsend currently serves as a director of Chubb Limited and Leonardo DRS, Inc. Ms. Townsend also serves on multiple private company and non-profit Boards including, but not limited to, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Executive Committee of the Trilateral Commission, the Executive Committee of the Atlantic Council, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the McCain Institute for International Leadership. She received her J.D. degree from the University of San Diego School of Law after graduating from American University where she received a B.A. in Political Science and a B.S. in Psychology. Ms. Townsend joined the FCX Board in December 2013.