Thomas J. Falk
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Thomas J. Falk (born 1958)[1] is an American businessman. He was Chief Executive Officer of consumer product products giant Kimberly-Clark Corporation from 2002 until 2018 and remained as Executive Chairman until his retirement at the end of 2019.[2][3]
Falk was born in 1958, in Waterloo, Iowa, the oldest of nine children in a modest family.[4] He grew up in the Milwaukee area.[5] His first job was as a caddie at a local golf course Chenequa Country Club, at the age of 12.[5] By age 16, he professionally played drums.[6]
Falk won the Evans Scholarship (a full-tuition award available only to caddies)[5] and received his bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin in 1980.[4][5] Falk earned a Master's of Science in management at Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 1989.[7][4]
Career
Alexander Grant & Co
Falk's first job was with accounting firm Alexander Grant & Co, where he got his public accountant certification. He worked there for 3 years, from 1980 till 1983.[4]
Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Falk began his career at Kimberly-Clark in 1983.[8] He was appointed as a senior auditor in 1984 and two years later he became a senior financial analyst, in 1986.[4]
In 1989, Falk worked as an operations manager for infant care at South Carolina diaper plant.[4]
In 1991, Falk took the position of the senior vice-president of analysis and administration.[4]
Falk has been an executive director of Kimberly-Clark Corporation since 1999. He served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Kimberly-Clark Corporation from 1999 to 2002[9] and as chief executive officer from September 12, 2002, until December 31, 2018. He became Chairman of Kimberly-Clark Corporation's Board of Directors on February 18, 2003, a position he retained for a year following his December 2018 retirement as CEO.[10]
Falk served as Group President - Global Tissue, Pulp and Paper in 1998. He served as the President and Chief Operating Officer since 1999, and as president and chief executive officer in 2002.