James R. Campbell

Doctor of Laws
Carlson School of Management, September 2, 2008

James R. Campbell, graduate of the University of Minnesota, is the former chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Norwest Bank Minnesota (1986). In 1998, he managed the $30 million merger of Norwest Banks with Wells Fargo, becoming Group Executive Vice President for Wells Fargo and Chairman and CEO of Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota. Throughout his 38-year career in banking he was known for his conviction, leadership, integrity, and his insistence on relationship and community building. He has been recognized by numerous organizations, including the College of Saint Benedict, which “honors leaders in the business community for their actions dedicated to the transformation of society,” and by the NAACP with a Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2003 he was named “Executive of the Year” by The Business Journal. His commitment to the Twin Cities and state of Minnesota is unparalleled. As chairman of the Minneapolis United Way, he led a campaign that raised a record $57.3 million for the organization. After “ retirement,” he demonstrated his leadership in the launching of the Itasca Project – an initiative formed by concerned business and civic leaders to look for ways to address key issues that the Twin Cities face, such as transportation, economic development, and higher education. This past June, he completed a three-year term as interim-co dean of the Carlson School of Management, where he strengthened the school’s ties to the business community. He is described as “one of those few people who works for the common good,” and that the community and the University of Minnesota are better off because of him.