Mr. Messier said: "I have greatly enjoyed serving on the NYSE Board with my colleagues, under the exceptional leadership of Dick Grasso. At this challenging time for all of us it has been a great honor and Dick has achieved a lot with his team, not only for the NYSE but for all free markets and the free world. My new business does not fit in with the "classification" I had at the time I joined. So it is only fair for me to give back my seat on the NYSE Board. Nothing would make me happier than to be able to join again later on in a new capacity."
"Jean-Marie brought to our board the perspective of our non-U.S. companies at an important time," said NYSE Chairman and CEO Dick Grasso. "We will miss Mr. Messier's extraordinary insight and wise counsel. We are deeply grateful for his service to the Exchange. I will personally miss Jean Marie's guidance which was invaluable to the success of our global expansion."