Needham, James Joseph (1926– )

US accountant and financier. Named chairman and chief executive officer of the New York Stock Exchange in 1972, the first chosen from outside the industry, he served until a boardroom coup toppled him in 1976. He later became a consultant, taught at St John's, and was active in Republican politics and Roman Catholic charitable causes.

Needham was born in Woodhaven, New York. He studied at Cornell and St John's University (New York City) and worked as an accountant for Price, Waterhouse from 1947–54; he later became a partner in the firm R T Hyer & Company.