john lawson thornton is an american businessman and professor, born on january 2, 1954, in fort monroe, virginia. he is the executive chairman of barrick gold corporation, non-executive chairman of pinebridge investments, and professor and director of the global leadership program at tsinghua university in beijing. thornton's professional career is marked by his involvement in various prominent institutions, including his role as co-president of goldman sachs from 1999 to 2003. early life and education although information about john lawson thornton's early life and education is not readily a…