GM Chair to Deliver Commencement Speech
GM Chair to Deliver Commencement Speech
GM Chair Rick Wagoner to Deliver Commencement Speech at his Alma Mater
by Natalie Anderson
In the news: Duke President Richard H. Brodhead has recently announced
that G. Richard Wagoner Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
the General Motors Corporation–worlds largest automaker and maker of
the popular GM Seat Belt — will deliver a commencement address at the
Duke University on May 13.
Chairman Wagoner is a 1975 alumna of Duke University and currently a
member of the universitys board of trustees. Wagoner finished a
bachelors degree in economics from Duke in 1975 and a masters degree in
business administration from Harvard University in 1977. In addition to
being one of the Dukes Board of Trustees, where he is a member of the
boards executive trusteeship and student affairs committees. Wagoner also
serves on the Fuqua School of Business Board of Visitors at Duke and
co-chair of Dukes Financial Aid Initiative which is a continuing effort
to raise $300 million in new endowment funds to strengthen the
universitys financial aid programs.
Wagoners wife Kathy is also a Duke alumna. They have three sons, one
of whom is Trip who graduated from Duke last May while their second son,
Scott is now a Duke student. Most of the Rick Wagoners family starting
with his dad, sister and brother-in-law has studied at Dukes
University.
According to Brodhead, Im very grateful that Rick Wagoner has agreed
to speak at our commencement. Like all our graduates, when he left
Duke, Rick went off to see what he could make of the opportunities of his
time. In the process, he became CEO in one of the Americas biggest and
most challenging businesses and a leader whose strength and integrity
are known throughout the world. He loves this university and has served
it in thousand ways. Hell be a great at helping our graduates look
into their futures.
Duke Senior Andrew Longenecker, who serves on this years commencement
committee, said that he was overjoyed to learn that Wagoner would be
speaking at the commencement. Think hell give a great speech. I feel
like he will impart a lot of knowledge and energy to the graduates.
Rick Wagoner joined GM in the year 1977 as an analyst in the companys
New York treasurers office. After receiving several promotions there
he was made to serve in leadership positions for GM in Switzerland,
Brazil, and Canada. And then in 1992, he was promoted to executive vice
president and chief financial officer with an added responsibility of
worldwide purchasing in 1993. A year later he was again promoted as
executive vice president of GM and President of North American Operations.
In 1998, Wagoner was elected president and chief operating officer then
in June 2000 at the age of 47; he became the youngest CEO in GMs
history. He took the additional responsibilities of chairmanship on May 1,
2003.
And in addition to the very long list of Wagoners accomplishments, he
is also a member of the board of trustees of Detroit Country Day
School, the board of deans advisors of the Harvard Business School and the
board of directors of Catalyst. He is the Chairman of the Society of
Automotive Engineers A World in Motion Executive Committee and a member
of the Detroit Renaissance Executive Committee, The Business Council
and The Business Roundtable.
About the Author
Noah Scott is a 30 year old native of New Jersey, writer, and car fan –
having grown up with both parents being auto enthusiasts. He works for
an automotive consultancy firm and regularly contributes articles to
car magazines.
