based on the Marriott model. He developed the Euro Disney theme park complex in Paris from site selection to financing, gaining major concessions from the French government and culminating in one of Europe's largest IPOs. He financed films through innovative public partnerships that shifted ownership risk to investors while Disney retained distribution fees and a share of appreciation. Wilson led the buyout of Northwest Airlines in 1989. With partner KLM, Northwest Airlines created code-sharing which allowed passengers to fly on several airlines on a single ticket thus creating airline alliances that now permeate the industry. SkyTeam, Oneworld and Star Alliance now cover the world. In 1997, Northwest acquired control of Continental Airlines. In 2004 as a director of KLM, he helped negotiate their merger with Air France. Prior to the September 11 attacks and the subsequent fallout on the airline industry, Northwest's market capitalization reached $6 billion, providing investors with handsome returns on their $300 million initial equity investment. He served as chairman or co-chairman of Northwest from 1991 to 2007. Wilson successfully acquired other companies, including Progress Rail in 2004, and is the creator and general partner of several private equity funds: Manhattan Pacific Partners, an investment fund; Thayer Lodging, a hotel investor; and KAILAI Investments, which invests in Chinese companies. Wilson's group acquired Coldwell Banker's commercial real estate company in 1992, which through many acquisitions became CBRE Group, Inc., the world's largest real estate firm. He served on the CBRE board until 2016. “Leadership and management are a business’s most important asset. They are not on the balance sheet, but they can quickly produce results. Be aggressive about who you work for and hire people better than you are.” — Gary L. Wilson during a speech in 2005 at the University of Southern California. Boards Wilson is Chairman of the Board of TruthMD. He is trustee emeritus of Duke University and serves on the board of overseers of the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. He previously served on the boards of directors of Northwest Airlines, Inc., The Walt Disney Company and Yahoo! Inc. Philanthropy In 1990 Gary established The Wilson Foundation. Its objective is helping the disadvantaged with a focus on education and criminal justice reform. The Wilson Foundation partnered with the Koch family to establish the Wilson Center for Science and Justice at Duke Law. The Foundation is the prime sponsor of