Jack Sandner was chairman of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange during some of the most important events in the history of the futures industry. He was elected to CME’s board of directors in 1977 and served as its chairman for more than 10 years, the longest tenure of any CME chairman. Sandner was at the helm during the introduction of Eurodollar contracts, now the most active futures and options contract in the world; S&P 500 futures, among the most active index products in the world; and the launch of Globex, the first global electronic trading system. He also testified on behalf of the futures industry in Washington, most notably during the 1980 gold and silver crisis, the 1987 stock market crash and the modernization of financial services regulation in the 1990s. Sandnerovercame adversity in his early years to graduate as valedictorian from high school, work his way through Southern Illinois University and earn a law degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1968. Sandner frequently sets aside time to share his story with young people, inspiring them to follow their dreams.
