Thursday, July 25, 2013

Introduction Letter and Bio from Bob Weissman, former CEO of Dun & Bradstreet



Hello.

My name is Bob Weissman. Over the past fifty years, I have had the good fortune to successfully lead companies with sales ranging from two million to six billion, in industries as diverse as gun parts manufacturing and Yellow Pages publishing.

Along with some successes, I made at least my share of mistakes. But win or lose, I consistently tried to understand any underlying principle or insight that might help prepare me for the next ‘adventure’.

Most important, I made a note of what I had learned; and over the years I have kept those notes.

Ted Santos has suggested that I share those insights with you through occasional commentary on his blog, and I jumped at the chance.

 I’m looking forward to joining your blog community.


Sincerely,

Bob Weissman



Biography – Robert E. Weissman


Robert E. Weissman retired in January 2001 after nearly thirty years working as CEO for several public corporations.  Over the course of his career, Mr. Weissman has started a business that grew from 42 employees to 64,000 in 15 years, done over 200 acquisitions, and has been a Director of 11 public companies.  When he retired, Mr. Weissman was Chairman of IMS Health, the world’s largest provider of information to the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.  IMS Health is listed on the NYSE and is an S&P 500 company.

IMS Health was a spin-off from The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation in 1996.  Mr. Weissman was with D&B for seventeen years, becoming Chairman and CEO in 1993. 

Prior to his election to the top post, he was President and COO of that company since 1985.  In the period that Mr. Weissman was with Dun & Bradstreet, it grew to become the largest information and market research company in the world, with 72,000 employees in 114 countries.

Mr. Weissman joined Dun & Bradstreet in May 1979, when D&B acquired National CSS, a computer time-sharing company, where he was President and CEO.

Prior to joining National CSS, Mr. Weissman was Executive Vice President of Rediffusion, Inc., a manufacturer of communications equipment and computers.  Previously, he was President and CEO of Spencer-Kennedy Laboratories.

Since his retirement, Mr. Weissman has been active as Chairman of Shelburne Investments, a private investment company that works with emerging companies in the United States and Europe.

Mr. Weissman has been a member of several professional and business organizations, including the Business Roundtable, the Institute of Management Accountants, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, and the Committee for Economic Development.  He has also been Chairman of the Information Technology Association of America.  In 1980, he served as Chairman of the World Computer Services Congress.

Mr. Weissman is a director of State Street Corporation, Pitney Bowes, Inc., Information Services Group and Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation.

Born in New Haven, CT, on May 22, 1940, Mr. Weissman graduated from Babson College in 1964.  He is Vice Chairman of Babson’s Board of Trustees, where he received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1995.

He and his wife Janet have three grown children and make their home in Bonita Springs, Florida.

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