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