Wendell P. Weeks (born 1959/60) is an American businessman, the chairman, CEO, and president of Corning Inc.
Wendell Weeks | |
---|---|
Born | Wendell P. Weeks 1959 or 1960 (age 64–65)[1] |
Nationality | American |
Education | Lehigh University (BS) Harvard University (MBA) |
Occupation | Businessman |
Title | Chairman, CEO, and president, Corning Inc. |
Term | April 2007- |
Spouse | Kim Frock |
Children | 2 |
Education
editWeeks received a bachelor's degree in accounting and finance from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1981, and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1987.[1][2]
Business career
editCorning
editWeeks joined Corning in 1983. He held a variety of financial, business development, commercial, and general management roles, including strategic positions in the company’s television, specialty glass, and optical communications businesses.
In 1996, Weeks was named vice president and general manager of Corning’s optical fiber business, a tenure which included managing through a major sales downturn.[3]
Weeks has been a director of Corning since December 2000.
He was promoted to chief executive officer in April 2005. A notable action was rapid movement into production of Gorilla Glass, for the new iPhone.[4][5]
He became chairman in April 2007.[6][1]
Non-executive roles
editWeeks has been a member of the board of directors of Amazon.com since February 2016.[1]
Business philosophy
editWeeks has said that "If you’re going to sustain as an institution, you have to focus on problems that matter. For Corning, some of those things are cleaner air; safer, more effective medicines; and fast, reliable communication. A company’s value is ultimately measured by whether or not it does good in society." He believes that creative destruction is an important part of capitalism, but so is collaboration.[7] He regards failures as opportunities to learn.[8]
Personal life
editWeeks met his wife, Kim Frock, at Harvard Business School.[7] She worked at Corning and helped initiate and volunteered with a local school project. They have two children.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Wendell P. Weeks: Executive Profile & Biography - Bloomberg". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
- ^ "Wendell P. Weeks, MBA 1987 - Alumni - Harvard Business School". hbs.edu. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
- ^ "Q&A: Corning's Comeback Ceo". Newsweek. 28 January 2007.
- ^ "12 Years Ago, Steve Jobs Taught an Astonishingly Effective Leadership Lesson in 5 Short Parts". 14 July 2019.
- ^ https://www2.willworkinc.com/dont-be-afraid-one-of-historys-greatest-innovators-and-inventors-issues-a-challenge/ [dead link]
- ^ "Wendell P. Weeks - Our Leadership - Corning". www.corning.com. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
- ^ a b "Wendell Weeks: Making Corning Even More Durable".
- ^ "Failure as opportunity to learn: Q&A with Corning CEO Wendell P Weeks".
- ^ "One School at a Time - Alumni - Harvard Business School". 27 March 2012.