Commencement Speaker - Stephen F. Angel
Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer Praxair, Inc.
Steve Angel became chairman of Praxair, Inc. on May 1, 2007. He had been president and chief executive officer since January 1, 2007.
Angel joined Praxair in 2001 as executive vice president, responsible for Praxair's businesses in North America, Europe and Asia, as well as for Healthcare. He was named president and chief operating officer in February 2006.
Prior to joining Praxair, Angel was general manager of General Electric’s $2-billion Power Equipment business, directing eight business units and six joint ventures in four countries. Angel joined GE in 1979. In 1995 he was promoted to general manager of marketing for Electrical Distribution and Control and in 1996 became general manager, marketing and sales, for the Transportation Systems business in Erie, Penn. He was appointed to the industrial systems position in 1999.
Angel is a director on the boards of PPG Industries, the U.S.-China Business Council and the American Chemistry Council. He also is a member of the Business Roundtable and the U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum.
A native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Angel received a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from North Carolina State University and a master’s degree in business administration from Loyola College in Baltimore.
Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2010 sales of $10 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.
