Ronald L. Nelson is chairman and chief executive officer of Avis Budget Group, Inc., one of the world's largest general-use car rental companies and operator of the Avis and Budget brands in North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand. Avis Budget Group, Inc. is the successor entity to Cendant Corporation following the spin-offs of the Cendant Real Estate and Hospitality operations. At Cendant, Mr. Nelson served as president, chief financial officer and a director, with responsibility for strategic and financial planning, treasury, financial reporting and accounting, internal audit, tax, investor relations and corporate communications, as well as the matrixed administrative functions that served Cendant's business units. Prior to joining Cendant, Mr. Nelson served as co-chief operating officer of DreamWorks SKG since that company's founding in 1994. At DreamWorks, he was instrumental in raising more than $5 billion in capital necessary to launch the company and developing its operating infrastructure and policies. Mr. Nelson also was executive vice president, chief financial officer and a director at Paramount Communications, Inc., formerly Gulf & Western Industries, Inc., where he was responsible for all financial functions including mergers and acquisitions and strategy.