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Robert D. Kennedy
American businessman (1932–2021) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Robert D. Kennedy (November 8, 1932 – April 3, 2021) was an American businessman who served as president, CEO, and chairman of Union Carbide.
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Early life and education
Kennedy was born on November 8, 1932, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the youngest of four sons born to Lois (née Smith) Kennedy and T. Reed Kennedy.[1]
He attended New Hampton School in New Hampton, New Hampshire, graduating with the class of 1950. He then attended Cornell University, where he received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1955 and was elected into the Sphinx Head Society.[2]
Career
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After graduating from Cornell, Kennedy joined Union Carbide as a trainee at the division's Edgewater Research Laboratory in Cleveland, Ohio.[3] In 1977 Kennedy became president of the Linde division of the company and built a $29 million industrial gases complex in Niagara Falls, New York.[4] He was elected a senior vice president in 1981, and an executive vice president in 1982.[2]
In July 1985, Kennedy and Heinn F. Tomfohrde III, both executive vice presidents, were appointed as co-presidents of Union Carbide, sharing the responsibilities of Alec Flamm, the former president and chief operating officer who became vice chairman.[5] Kennedy became the head of Carbide's plastics and chemicals businesses, while Tomfohrde, became head of its industrial products and services businesses.[6]
In March 1986, he became chief executive officer and,[7] in December 1986, chairman, succeeding Warren M. Anderson in both roles.[8][9] Under Kennedy's tenure, "the company trimmed its operations to focus on petrochemicals, its core operations."[10] In 1990, he was succeeded as president by H. William Lichtenberger, president of Carbide's chemicals and plastics unit.[11] Kennedy continued as chairman and chief executive.[11]
He retired as chief executive in 1995 and was succeeded by William H. Joyce, chief operating officer and president since 1993.[12] Kennedy continued as chairman until he fully retired from the company on December 31, 1995.[12][13] He also served as a director of Kmart Corporation, Lion Ore Mining International Ltd., Sunoco, Inc., and Union Camp Corporation.[2]
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Personal life
On January 28, 1956, Kennedy married Sally Duff. Together, they were the parents of Robert B. Kennedy, Thomas Kennedy, Kathleen Kennedy and Melissa (née Kennedy) Jurick.[1]
Kennedy died on April 3, 2021, at his home in New Canaan, Connecticut.[1]
References
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