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Willie Deese, “Life’s Most Persistent and Urgent Question” (June 23)

June 23, 2021 @ 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

Willie Deese – Retired Executive Vice President, Merck Manufacturing/Corporate Director

Co-Chair of NC A&T’s Power of Do Campaign

“Life’s Most Urgent and Persistent Question”

Willie is a highly successful senior executive with an extensive background as a member of global Fortune 200 company leadership teams creating growth strategies impacting M&A, CAPEX allocation, acquisitive vs. organic growth decisions, divestitures, geographical expansion and ensuring accretive integration of acquired assets. Adding to his strategic perspective, he has actively interacted with corporate boards as a functional senior leader at Merck and GSK and is currently serving as a Director on four domestic and international company boards with extensive audit, governance and compensation committee participation. As a strong operational leader, he has 39 years’ experience in manufacturing, supply chain and procurement management with several global enterprises in both emerging and developed markets, driving complex transformational restructurings, internal productivity efficiencies, turnarounds, consolidations and integrations.

He is recognized for his proactive contributions defining healthy, engaged corporate cultures, with specific areas of focus, including ESG values/standards, Diversity & Inclusion policies, succession planning, compensation strategy and leadership development.

Since2011, Willie has developed his credentials as a board director, and currently serves on four company boards across diverse businesses. Speaking to his financial acumen, he has served on the Audit Committee for each company in addition to other committee roles.

In his corporate career, Willie most recently had a 12-year run at Merck & Co., Inc. In his last position he led global manufacturing, supply chain management, logistics/distribution, procurement and Lean Six Sigma, with oversight of 42 manufacturing sites spanning 30 countries, an annual operating budget of $9.0 billion and capital budget of $2.0 billion.

Willie received his MBA from Western New England University and his BS in Business Administration from N.C. A&T State University. Willie is the co-chair of A&T’s Power of Do campaign which raised a record $181.4 million, far surpassing the $85 million goal. As a transformational contributor to the university, Willie has made significant impact on A&T where the clock tower, student center ballroom, and college of business and economics bear his name.

To Attend In Person:  RSVP required at least 24 hours in advance to attend in person. RSVP HERE.
If you show up without RSVPing, you will be asked to wait until those who have RSVP’d have received their lunches. Thank you for understanding while we restart our club meetings.

To Attend Virtually:  The Zoom link was  provided in the newsletter that was published on the Monday before this date.

To Attend as a Prospective Member or Guest: Click here for more information.

Details

Date:
June 23, 2021
Time:
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Event Category:

Venue

Terrace at the Greensboro Coliseum
1921 West Gate City Boulevard
Greensboro, NC 27403 United States
+ Google Map
Phone
(336) 373-7400