John P. Rathbone P '02, P '05

Bio

John P. Rathbone joined Norfolk Southern's predecessor, Norfolk & Western Railway Co., in 1981. He held multiple auditing roles for the company before being named vice president and controller in 1992. He became senior vice president in 2003 and executive vice president of administration in 2004.

 In 2012, the company named Rathbone as its executive vice president of finance and chief financial officer. He retired in 2013 after 32 years with Norfolk Southern and continued as an independent consultant for the company until 2015.

Prior to his work with Norfolk Southern, he worked as a senior auditor for KPMG, formerly Peat Marwick Mitchell. Rathbone is a native of Alexandria, Virginia, and a graduate of Virginia Tech, where he earned a bachelor's degree in history and English. After his graduation from Virginia Tech, he took accounting classes at William & Mary.

The father of Jay Rathbone '02, M.Acc. '03, and David Rathbone '05, M.B.A. '11, he chaired the Parent and Family Council and is an emeritus trustee of the William & Mary Foundation. He previously served on the W&M Board of Visitors, where he chaired the Richard Bland College Committee and served as a member of the Committee on Financial Affairs. He also served as rector of both the Eastern Virginia Medical School and Richard Bland College. Inspired by his two sons, Rathbone made a $1 million commitment in 2015 to the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William & Mary in support of its Master of Accounting and M.B.A. programs

Board Appointment Record:
Appointed July 1, 2021 by Governor Ralph Northam
Appointed March 18, 2026 (to fill vacant seat) by Governor Abigail Spanberger

2026-2027 Committee Assignments

Committee on Athletics
Committee on Administration, Buildings & Grounds