Background
George, William Wallace was born on September 14, 1942 in Muskegon, Michigan, United States. Son of Wallace Edwin and Kathryn Jean George.
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William Wallace George
Edit Profilemanufacturing executive finance educator
Education
Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering with honors, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1964. Master of Business Administration with High Distinction, Harvard University, 1966. Doctor in Business Administration (honorary), Bryant University, 2005.
Career
Assistant to assistant secretary United States Department Defense, Washington, 1966-1968, special civilian assistant to secretary Dept Navy, 1968-1969. Director long-range planning Litton Industries, Cleveland, 1969-1970. Vice president Litton Microwave Cooking Products, Minneapolis, 1970-1971, executive vice president, 1971-1973, president, 1973-1978.
Vice president corporation development Honeywell, 1978-1980, executive vice president control systems, 1983—1986, president Industrial Automation, 1987—1988, president space & aviation systems, 1988-1989. President Honeywell Europe (S.A.), 1980-1982. President, chief operating officer Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis, 1989-1991, Chief Executive Officer, 1991—2002, chairman, 1996—2002.
Professor management practice Harvard Business School, since 2004. Professor leadership & governance, International Institute Management Development, 2002-2003, visiting professor technical management, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, 2002-2003, executive-in-residence, Yale School Management, 2003. Board directors Northwestern Na.
Bank Minneapolis, 1977-1979, Honeywell Bull, 1980-1983, Valspar, 1984-1998, Toro, 1988-1994, Imation, 1996-2002, Target Corporation, 1994-2005, Novartis, since 1999, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., since 2002, Exxon Mobil Corporation, since 2005.
Achievements
Membership
Board dirs Abbott-Northwestern Hospital, 1984-1996, vice-chair, 1989-1991. Board directors Health Industry Manufacturers Association, 1993-1999, chair, 1997-1998. Board directors Allin Health Systems, 1994-2002, vice-chair, 1994-1999, chair, 1999-2001.
Chair Food & Drug Law Institute, 1996-1997. Chair health policy Minnesota Business Partnership, 1999-2001, American Red Cross, 2000-2003. Member national advisory board, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1975-1980.
Board directors Minnesota Symphony Orchestra, 1976-1980, United Way, Minnesota 1976-1979, vice-chairman United Theological Seminary, 1976-1980, vice-chairman, 1978-1980. President,Guthrie Theater 1979-1980. Board trustees Macalaster College, 1987-1993.
Chairman Minnesota Thunder Pro Soccer, 1994-1905. Board directors Mlps. Institute Arts, 1994-2004, vice chair, 1995-2000.
Board associates Harvard Business School, 1999-2004. Chair Greater Twin Cities United Way, 2001-2002, United Way Minneapolis, 2000-2001, campaign chair, 1997. Chair, Global Center for Leadership & Business Ethics, 2004-2006.
Board directors Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, since 2000, World Economic Forum, since 2006. Member Sigma Chi (International Balfour award 1964, trustee 1969-1975, Distinguished Alumni award Harvard University, 1997), National Association Corporate Director, 2003-2005. Clubs: Minneapolis, Minikahda.
Connections
Married Ann Tonnlier Pilgram, September 6, 1969. Children: Jeffrey, Jonathan.
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Born
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Nationality
American -
Religion
Episcopalian
Awards
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Recipient Meritorious Civilian Service Award Secretary Navy, 1969, Alumni Achievement award, Harvard Business School, 1997, Minneapolis award, 1999, Marco Polo award, People's Republicof China, 1999, Macalester College Distinguished Service award, 1999, Renaissance award, College St. Benedict, 2000, Distinguished Humanitarian award, B'nai B'rith, 2001 Lifetime Achievement award, Minnesota High Tech Association, 2003, East Grand Rapids (Michigan) High School Alumni Achievement award, 2006. Named an Outstanding Young Alumnus, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1977. Named Executive-of-the-Year, Academy of Management, 2001, Director of Year, National Association Corporate Directors, 2001. Named a "Legend in Leadership", Yale University, 2002. Named one of The Top 25 Managers of the Year, Business Week, 1998, The Top Five Executives of the Decade, Twin Cities Business, 1998, The 25 Most Influential Business People of the Last 25 Years, Public Broadcasting Service Nightly News, 2004. Named to ISyE Hall of Fame, 2004, The Engineering Hall of Fame, 2005, Junior Achievement of Minnesota Hall of Fame, 2006.Recipient Meritorious Civilian Service Award Secretary Navy, 1969, Alumni Achievement award, Harvard Business School, 1997, Minneapolis award, 1999, Marco Polo award, People's Republicof China, 1999, Macalester College Distinguished Service award, 1999, Renaissance award, College St. Benedict, 2000, Distinguished Humanitarian award, B'nai B'rith, 2001 Lifetime Achievement award, Minnesota High Tech Association, 2003, East Grand Rapids (Michigan) High School Alumni Achievement award, 2006. Named an Outstanding Young Alumnus, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1977. Named Executive-of-the-Year, Academy of Management, 2001, Director of Year, National Association Corporate Directors, 2001.
Named a "Legend in Leadership", Yale University, 2002. Named one of The Top 25 Managers of the Year, Business Week, 1998, The Top Five Executives of the Decade, Twin Cities Business, 1998, The 25 Most Influential Business People of the Last 25 Years, Public Broadcasting Service Nightly News, 2004. Named to ISyE Hall of Fame, 2004, The Engineering Hall of Fame, 2005, Junior Achievement of Minnesota Hall of Fame, 2006.