Wendell Weeks

Wendell P. Weeks (born 1959/60) is an American businessman, the chairman, CEO, and president of Corning Inc.

Wendell Weeks
Born
Wendell P. Weeks

1959/1960 (age 60–61)[1]
NationalityAmerican
EducationLehigh University
Harvard Business School
Occupationbusinessman
TitleChairman, CEO, and president, Corning Inc.
TermApril 2007-

Education

Weeks received a bachelor's degree in accounting and finance from Lehigh University in 1981, and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1987.[1][2]

Business career

Corning

Weeks 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

Weeks has been a member of the board of directors of Amazon.com since February 2016.[1]

Business philosophy

Weeks 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

Weeks met his wife, Kim Frock, at Harvard Business School.[7] Frock worked at Corning, and she helped initiate and volunteered with a local school project. They have 2 children.[9]

Weeks believes that you will be happy if you “find the people you love working with and something you are really excited to work on" (even if it doesn’t lead to external recognition).[7]

References
  1. "Wendell P. Weeks: Executive Profile & Biography - Bloomberg". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  2. "Wendell P. Weeks, MBA 1987 - Alumni - Harvard Business School". hbs.edu. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  3. https://www.newsweek.com/qa-cornings-comeback-ceo-98655
  4. https://www.inc.com/bill-murphy-jr/12-years-ago-steve-jobs-taught-an-astonishingly-effective-leadership-lesson-in-5-short-parts.html
  5. https://www2.willworkinc.com/dont-be-afraid-one-of-historys-greatest-innovators-and-inventors-issues-a-challenge/
  6. "Wendell P. Weeks - Our Leadership - Corning". www.corning.com. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  7. https://www2.lehigh.edu/news/wendell-weeks-making-corning-even-more-durable
  8. https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20090929PD209.html
  9. https://www.alumni.hbs.edu/stories/Pages/story-bulletin.aspx?num=1405


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