Meg Whitman in brief

Meg Whitman

Party: Republican

Occupation: Former chief executive, EBay online auction business

Age: 53, born Long Island, New York

City of residence: Atherton (Bay Area)

Personal: husband Griffith Harsh, two sons

Education: Bachelor’s degree in economics, Princeton University; MBA, Harvard Business School

Career highlights: Executive positions at several companies, including senior vice president at Walt Disney Co., 1989-1992; president, Stride Rite Division, Stride Rite Corp., 1994-1995; president and CEO, Florists Transworld Delivery (FTD), 1995-1997; general manager, preschool division, Hasbro Inc., 1997-1998; president and CEO of EBay Inc., 1998-2008

Platform: Create at least 2 million private-sector jobs by 2015, in part by cutting fees, taxes and unnecessary regulations. Cut spending by lopping at least $15 billion from state budget; reduce workforce by 40,000. Improve education by giving each school a letter grade, returning control of schools to parents, principals and teachers, demanding accountability for failing schools and expanding charters to improve choice.

Campaign website: www.megwhitman.com