| David N. Weidman | |
| Birth Date: | 1955 5, mf=yes |
| Nationality: | American |
| Field: | Chemistry |
| Work Institutions: | Celanese Corporation |
| Alma Mater: | University of Michigan |
| Awards: | Chemical Industry Medal (2012) Petrochemical Heritage Award 2017 |
David N. Weidman (born 1955 5, mf=yes) was Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of Celanese Corporation from December 2004 to April 2012, when he retired.[1] He received the Chemical Industry Medal from the Society of Chemical Industry in 2012,[2] and the Petrochemical Heritage Award in 2017.[3] [4]
Weidman was born 1955 5, mf=yes to Byron Orme and Olive Nelson Weidman in Tremonton, Utah.[5] Weidman was a finalist in the Westinghouse Science Talent Search in 1973, a highly prestigious science competition for high school seniors. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Chemical engineering from Brigham Young University (BYU) in 1978. He graduated with an MBA from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business in 1980.[6]
Weidman began his career in the chemical industry with American Cyanamid in 1980. He rose to the position of vice president at GM Cyanamid Canada (1989-1990) and in the GM Fibers Division (1990-1994).[7]
Weidman joined AlliedSignal in 1994, holding various positions, including president and general manager of fluorine products (1995-199)[8] and president of its performance polymers business (1998-1999). When Allied Signal was acquired by Honeywell, Weidman became Honeywell President of Performance Polymers Business (1999-2000).[7]
Weidman joined Celanese AG (Celanese's predecessor) in September 2000, where he held a number of executive positions. In 2002, he became chief operating officer. In December 2004, after the company moved from Germany to the United States, he became chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors of Celanese Corporation. In January 2005, the company held its first public offering.[1] Weidman was instrumental in the company's transformation from a German-based company (trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange) to a global company (trading on the New York Stock Exchange.) Weidman was elected to the position of chairman of the board of directors in February 2007. He retired in April 2012.[1]
Weidman is a past chairman of the board of the Society of Chemical Industry and of the American Chemistry Council (2009).[9]
Weidman is a member of the board of the National Advisory Council of the Marriott School of Business at BYU.[10] He is a member of the Advancement Counsel for Engineering and Technology for the Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology at BYU.[11] Weidman is a member of the board of The Conservation Fund. He is a board member of The Vanishing Cultures Project.[12]
Weidman and his wife, Rachel Nielsen Weidman, have served on the President's Leadership Council at BYU since 2009.[13] The couple donated $10 million towards the establishment of the Weidman Center for Global Leadership in the Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology at BYU in 2011.[14]
In 2013, David and Rachel Weidman were appointed as mission leaders for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the California Los Angeles Mission.[5] [15] After returning from California, they served at the church's Provo Missionary Training Center. Weidman was then appointed as the director of missionary effectiveness in the church's Missionary Department.[16]