John Hilton is retired president and CEO of the Bessemer Group, a New York-based wealth management firm. Prior to joining the Bessemer Group, Hilton was managing director for the Deerpath Group, Inc. of Lake Forest, Ill., and executive director for Merrill Lynch & Company’s Private Capital Group in Chicago. He serves as trustee and alumni admissions volunteer for the University of Vermont. Addi­tionally, Hilton serves on the board of the Mebane Charitable Foundation and the Washington Cen­ter. Hilton earned a Bachelor of Science in economics and business administration from the Univer­sity of Vermont in 1968. Married to Julia (Jody) Hanson Hilton, he resides in Coral Gables, Fla.