Events News
Wachovia CEO Ken Thompson speaks to students
Ken Thompson, chairman, president, and CEO of Wachovia Corporation, spoke to Moore School graduate students February 3 at the Russell House
Theater. His was the final lecture in the 2005-2006 Wachovia Executive Lecture Series.
During his speech, Thompson stressed the importance of internal communication in business. It’s important to hear from all levels of employees before making high-level decisions about the company, he said. Thompson also conducted a lively question-and-answer session with the students who attended the lecture.
Thompson joined First Union Corporation in 1976 and rose through the ranks to become chairman and CEO in 2000. In 2001, he guided the company’s merger with Wachovia. Since that time, Wachovia has acquired Prudential Financial’s brokerage business to become the third largest retail brokerage company in the nation and acquired SouthTrust Bank, strengthening Wachovia’s position as the number one bank in the Southeast.
In 2003 and 2005, Thompson was named one of Business Week’s best managers, and in 2005 he was named “Banker of the Year” by the American Banker newspaper. He is a member of the board of directors of Carolinas HealthCare System.
Thompson is chairman of both The Clearing House and The Financial Services Roundtable, and is a member of the Federal Reserve System Advisory Council, the Financial Services Forum, the International Monetary Conference, and The Business Council. Among his civic activities, he serves on the boards of Teach For America, United Way of Central Carolinas, Inc., and the YMCA. He earned his BA from University of North Carolina, where he was a Morehead Scholar, and his MBA from Wake Forest University.
The Wachovia Executive Lecture Series, sponsored by Wachovia Bank, brings renowned executives from around the country and around the world to share their wisdom and business experience with students, faculty, and friends of the Moore School. Speakers scheduled to date include John Bachmann, senior partner, Edward Jones Company, Ed Sellers, CEO and Chairman of the Board, BlueCross Blue Shield of SC; Gary Parsons, Chairman, XM Satellite Radio Holdings; Jim Micali, Chairman and President, Michelin North America; and Ken Thompson, Chairman, President, and CEO, Wachovia Corp.
The lecture series is not open to the public.