John E. Beard graduated from Williams College in 1954 and from Harvard Law School in 1957. He joined the law firm Ropes & Gray in 1957 and became a partner in 1967. Mr. Beard has represented companies like Reebok and Timberland in consumer-branded merchandise and EMC and Millipore in high-technology products and services. Mr. Beard has assisted private equity buyers in acquiring businesses using multi-tiered financing structures and has represented companies in establishing and operating joint ventures and other strategic partnerships. After serving BTU as Corporate Secretary since 1981 Mr. Beard joined the Board as a Director in June 2002. |