George David
George David | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 7, 1942 Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupation | Business executive |
| Years active | 1975–2007 |
| Known for | Former chairman and CEO of United Technologies Corporation |
George Alfred Lawrence David (born April 7, 1942) is the former chairman and chief executive officer of United Technologies Corporation (UTC). He ascended to the role of UTC president in 1992 and was appointed CEO two years later, after joining UTC’s Otis Elevator division in 1975 and rising to its presidency in 1986.
Life and career
A Pennsylvania native, David is the son of Charles Wendell David, a distinguished Rhodes Scholar and former director of libraries at the University of Pennsylvania. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University and subsequently obtained an M.B.A. from the University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business Administration. Early in his professional journey, he was employed by the Boston Consulting Group.
David holds board memberships with Citigroup, The Business Council, and the Business Roundtable, in addition to serving as Vice Chairman of the Peterson Institute for International Economics. His previous board roles include appointments at the University of Virginia’s Graduate Business School, the National Minority Supplier Development Council, and the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council among others.
Joining Otis Elevator Co. in 1975—the same year it was acquired by UTC—David played a pivotal role in significantly growing UTC’s aerospace and industrial sectors during his tenure.
His contributions to international business have been recognized through numerous awards: Russia honored him with the Order of Friendship in 1999 for his influence on its aerospace industry; France inducted him into its Legion of Honor in 2002; and in 2001 he received the John R. Alison Award from the Air Force Association for his national defense efforts. His business leadership has also been acknowledged by being named one of America’s Most Powerful People by Forbes magazine in 2000, receiving Industry Week CEO of the Year honors in 2003, and earning "CEO of the Year" distinction from Chief Executive Magazine in 2005.
In his final year as UTC’s CEO (2007), David’s total compensation reached $65 million.
Regarding his personal life, David has been married three times. His second marriage concluded with a widely publicized divorce settlement. In 2012, he wed Wendy Touton.
An enthusiastic yachtsman, David is affiliated with both the New York Yacht Club and the Royal Yacht Squadron. He actively campaigns his R/P 90 yacht Rambler (previously known as Alfa Romeo I) at international sailing competitions. Notably, in 2012 his maxi yacht Rambler established a new record during the Newport to Bermuda Race by reducing the fastest time by 14 hours.