EX-IM BANK CHIEF ROBSON DIES

EX-IM BANK CHIEF ROBSON DIES    John E. Robson, 71, president and chairman of the U.S. Export-Import Bank, died of cancer Wednesday.
   Robson, who was nominated to head the Ex-Im Bank by President Bush, took office in May 2001. Developed in the 1930s, the bank’s primary purpose is to encourage financing for U.S. exports.
   Prior to joining the Ex-Im Bank, Robson was an investment banker and senior advisor for San Francisco-based Robertson Stephens Co. He also formerly served as president and chief executive officer of G.D. Searle & Co., and was dean and professor of management at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School.
   In addition, Robson served on the corporate boards of Pharmacia Corp., Northrop Grumman, ProLogis Trust, Chiron Corp., Conrail, Continental Airlines, G.D. Searle & Co., Norrell and Rand McNally Corp.
   Over the years, Robson held political appointments under various presidential administrations in Washington. He first served as undersecretary of the Transportation Department for President Johnson.
   As chairman of the former Civil Aeronautics Board during Ford administration, Robson played a lead role in the implementation of the 1978 Airline Deregulation Act.
   He returned to Washington again in the late 1980s under the Bush administration and served as deputy under secretary of the Treasury Department.