David N. Weidman (born May 23, 1955[1]) was Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of Celanese Corporation from December 2004 to April 2012, when he retired.[2] He received the Chemical Industry Medal from the Society of Chemical Industry in 2012,[3] and the Petrochemical Heritage Award in 2017.[4][5]
David N. Weidman | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | May 23, 1955 |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan |
| Awards | Chemical Industry Medal (2012) Petrochemical Heritage Award 2017 |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Chemistry |
| Institutions | Celanese Corporation |
Early life and education
editWeidman was born May 23, 1955 to Byron Orme and Olive Nelson Weidman in Tremonton, Utah.[6] Weidman was a finalist in the Westinghouse Science Talent Search in 1973, a highly prestigious science competition for high school seniors. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Chemical engineering from Brigham Young University (BYU) in 1978. He graduated with an MBA from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business in 1980.[7]
Career
edit| External videos | |
|---|---|
 “David Weidman, CEO Celanese”, BYU Weidman Center Leadership Lecture Series, Brigham Young University |
Weidman began his career in the chemical industry with American Cyanamid in 1980. He rose to the position of vice president at GM Cyanamid Canada (1989-1990) and in the GM Fibers Division (1990-1994).[1]
Weidman joined AlliedSignal in 1994, holding various positions, including president and general manager of fluorine products (1995-199)[8] and president of its performance polymers business (1998-1999). When Allied Signal was acquired by Honeywell, Weidman became Honeywell President of Performance Polymers Business (1999-2000).[1]
Weidman joined Celanese AG (Celanese's predecessor) in September 2000, where he held a number of executive positions. In 2002, he became chief operating officer. In December 2004, after the company moved from Germany to the United States, he became chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors of Celanese Corporation. In January 2005, the company held its first public offering.[2] Weidman was instrumental in the company's transformation from a German-based company (trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange) to a global company (trading on the New York Stock Exchange.) Weidman was elected to the position of chairman of the board of directors in February 2007. He retired in April 2012.[2]
Weidman is a past chairman of the board of the Society of Chemical Industry and of the American Chemistry Council (2009).[9]
Weidman is a member of the board of the National Advisory Council of the Marriott School of Business at BYU.[10] He is a member of the Advancement Counsel for Engineering and Technology for the Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology at BYU.[11] Weidman is a member of the board of The Conservation Fund. He is a board member of The Vanishing Cultures Project.[12]
Philanthropy
editWeidman and his wife, Rachel Nielsen Weidman, have served on the President's Leadership Council at BYU since 2009.[13] The couple donated $10 million towards the establishment of the Weidman Center for Global Leadership in the Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology at BYU in 2011.[14]
Religion
editIn 2013, David and Rachel Weidman were appointed as mission leaders for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the California Los Angeles Mission.[6][15] After returning from California, they served at the church's Provo Missionary Training Center. Weidman was then appointed as the director of missionary effectiveness in the church's Missionary Department.[16]
References
edit- ^ a b c "David N. Weidman". NNDB Tracking the entire world. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
- ^ a b c "Weidman Announces April 2012 Retirement; Mark Rohr to Succeed as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer". Business Wire. November 7, 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
- ^ "Retiring Celanese CEO Wins Industry Award". Chemical Processing. March 5, 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
- ^ "Petrochemical Heritage Award". Science History Institute. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
- ^ "2017 Petrochemical Award Honoree Dave Weidman". The Founders Club. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
- ^ a b "New mission presidents". Church News. February 2, 2013.
- ^ "CEO Compensation #132 David N Weidman". Forbes.com. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
- ^ "NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING Table of Contents CELANESE CORPORATION". US Securities and Exchange Commission. August 14, 2006. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
- ^ "American Chemistry Council Elects New Board Members". Nol-tec Systems News. February 17, 2009. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
- ^ "David N. Weidman". National Advisory Council. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
- ^ ""A Framework of Leadership" David N. Weidman". Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
- ^ "Who We Are". The Vanishing Cultures Project. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
- ^ Smart, Michael (March 2, 2011). "BYU announces $10 million donation for engineering global leadership center". Brigham Young University. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
- ^ "The Weidman Center for Global Leadership". Brigham Young University. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
- ^ "New mission presidents called to Hawaii, Canada and other missions". LDS Church News. February 18, 2016. Archived from the original on February 22, 2016.
- ^ "BYU Marriott Honors David N. Weidman". Sep 24, 2018. Retrieved 2019-11-05.