Needham, James Joseph

Needham, James Joseph (1926–  ) accountant, financier; born in Woodhaven, N.Y. He studied at Cornell and St. John's University (New York City) and worked as an accountant for Price, Waterhouse from 1947–54; he later became a partner in the firm R. T. Hyer & Company. Named chairman and chief executive officer of the New York Stock Exchange in 1972, the first chosen from outside the industry, he served until a boardroom coup toppled him in 1976. He later became a consultant, taught at St. John's, and was active in Republican politics and Roman Catholic charitable causes.