David N. Weidman

Weidman was born (1955-05-23)May 23, 1955 to Byron Orme and Olive Nelson Weidman in Tremonton, Utah.^[6] 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.^[7]

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“David Weidman, CEO Celanese”, BYU Weidman Center Leadership Lecture Series, Brigham Young University

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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).^[1]

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).^[1]

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.^[2] 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.^[2]

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.^[6][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]