Robert D. Kennedy (November 8, 1932 – April 3, 2021) was an American businessman who served as president, CEO, and chairman of
Union Carbide.
Early life and education
Kennedy was born on November 8, 1932, in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the youngest of four sons born to Lois ( Smith) Kennedy and T. Reed Kennedy.
He attended
New Hampton School in
New Hampton, New Hampshire
New Hampton is a town in Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,377 at the 2020 census. A winter sports resort area, New Hampton is home to George Duncan State Forest and to the New Hampton School, a private prepara ...
, 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
The Sphinx Head Society is the oldest senior honor society at Cornell University. Sphinx Head recognizes Cornell senior men and women who have demonstrated respectable strength of character on top of a dedication to leadership and service at Corn ...
.
Career
After graduating from Cornell, Kennedy joined
Union Carbide as a trainee at the division's Edgewater Research Laboratory in
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...
.
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
Niagara Falls is a City (New York), city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the city had a total population of 48,671. It is adjacent to the Niagara River, across from the city of Niagara ...
.
He was elected a senior vice president in 1981, and an executive vice president in 1982.
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. Kennedy became the head of Carbide's plastics and chemicals businesses, while Tomfohrde, became head of its industrial products and services businesses.
In March 1986, he became chief executive officer and,
in December 1986, chairman, succeeding
Warren M. Anderson
Warren Mattice Anderson (October 16, 1915 – June 1, 2007) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was Temporary President and Majority Leader of the New York State Senate from 1973 to 1988.
Life
He was born on October 16, 191 ...
in both roles.
Under Kennedy's tenure, "the company trimmed its operations to focus on petrochemicals, its core operations."
In 1990, he was succeeded as president by H. William Lichtenberger, president of Carbide's chemicals and plastics unit.
Kennedy continued as chairman and chief executive.
He retired as chief executive in 1995 and was succeeded by William H. Joyce, chief operating officer and president since 1993.
Kennedy continued as chairman until he fully retired from the company on December 31, 1995.
/ref> He also served as a director of Kmart Corporation, Lion Ore Mining International Ltd., Sunoco, Inc.
Sunoco LP is an American master limited partnership organized under Delaware state laws and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, that is a wholesale distributor of motor fuels. It distributes fuel to more than 5,500 Sunoco-branded gas stations, ...
, and Union Camp Corporation.
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 ( Kennedy) Jurick.
References
External links
Film: Hunting the Corporate Killers
(transcript)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kennedy, Robert D.
1932 births
2021 deaths
Cornell University College of Engineering alumni
Businesspeople from Pittsburgh
New Hampton School alumni
American chief executives