David N. Weidman
David N. Weidman was Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of Celanese Corporation from December 2004 to April 2012, when he retired. He received the Chemical Industry Medal from the Society of Chemical Industry in 2012, and the Petrochemical Heritage Award in 2017.
Early life and education
Weidman was born to Byron Orme and Olive Nelson Weidman in Tremonton, Utah. 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 in 1978. He graduated with an MBA from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business in 1980.Career
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 and in the GM Fibers Division.Weidman joined AlliedSignal in 1994, holding various positions, including president and general manager of fluorine products and president of its performance polymers business. When Allied Signal was acquired by Honeywell, Weidman became Honeywell President of Performance Polymers Business.
Weidman joined Celanese AG 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. Weidman was instrumental in the company's transformation from a German-based company to a global company Weidman was elected to the position of chairman of the board of directors in February 2007. He retired in April 2012.
Weidman is a past chairman of the board of the Society of Chemical Industry and of the American Chemistry Council.
Weidman is a member of the board of the National Advisory Council of the Marriott School of Business at BYU. He is a member of the Advancement Counsel for Engineering and Technology for the Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology at BYU. Weidman is a member of the board of The Conservation Fund. He is a board member of The Vanishing Cultures Project.