Transforming Daily Life™Leadership
Charles G. Koch is chairman of the board and CEO of Koch Industries, Inc., a position he has held since 1967. Since then, the company has been transformed into a dynamic and diverse group of companies with about 70,000 employees and a presence in nearly 60 countries. Based in Wichita, Kan., Koch Industries is involved in refining and chemicals; process and pollution control equipment and technologies; minerals; fertilizers; polymers and fibers; commodity trading and services; and forest and consumer products. Familiar Koch companies’ brands include STAINMASTER® carpet, LYCRA® fiber, Quilted Northern® tissue and the Dixie® brand of tabletop products. Much of Koch Industries' success can be traced to Mr. Koch's interest in and commitment to scientific and social progress, which led to the development and implementation of the Market-Based Management® business philosophy. The concepts and practice of MBM® are described in Mr. Koch’s book, “The Science of Success,” published in February 2007 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Mr. Koch is further developing the theories and expanding the practice of the MBM® philosophy, as well as other applications of the science of human action, not only throughout Koch Industries, but also with scholars, non-profit leaders, government officials and other business leaders. He has continuously supported academic and public policy research (including a number of Nobel Prize winners) for more than 40 years, with a special focus on developing voluntary, market-based solutions to social problems. This interest led Mr. Koch to found or help build a number of organizations, including the Institute for Humane Studies, the Cato Institute, the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, the Bill of Rights Institute and the Market-Based Management Institute. As a reflection of his business leadership and community involvement, Mr. Koch has received a number of honors and awards. These include: • Honorary Doctor of Science, from George Mason University • Honorary Doctor of Laws, from Babson College • Honorary Doctor of Commerce, from Washburn University • 2004 President’s Medal, from Wichita State University • The Entrepreneurial Leadership Award, from the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship • The Adam Smith Award, from the American Legislative Exchange Council • The Brotherhood/Sisterhood Award, from the National Conference of Christians and Jews • Distinguished Citizen Award, from the Boy Scouts of America • Spirit of Justice Award, from The Heritage Foundation • Free Enterprise Award, from The Council for National Policy • The Tax Foundation’s 2000 National Distinguished Service Award • The 1999 Directors’ Award for Global Vision in Energy, from the New York Mercantile Exchange • The Herman W. Lay Memorial Award, from The Association of Private Enterprise Education • The 1999 Governor’s Arts Patrons Award, from the Kansas Arts Commission • The Distinguished Service Citation, from the University of Kansas • Honorary Life Member in the Washburn Law School Association • Distinguished Citizen Award, from Kansas State University • Induction into the Kansas Oil and Gas Hall of Fame • Induction into the Wichita and Kansas Business Halls of Fame • Spirit of Excellence Award, from The Urban League of Wichita • Outstanding Humanitarian Award, from the Greater Wichita Chapter of the National Society of Fundraising Executives • Wichita City Medallion • Wichita State University Entrepreneur in Residence • Wichita District Minority Small Business Advocate of the Year • Individual Recognition Award, from the Wichita/Sedgwick County Arts and Humanities Council • Uncommon Citizen Award, from the Wichita Chamber of Commerce • Recognition Award, from Wichita State University Mr. Koch received a bachelor’s degree in general engineering (1957) and two master’s degrees in nuclear and chemical engineering (1958 and 1959, respectively) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His employment has been as an engineer, Arthur D. Little, Inc. 1959-61; vice president, Koch Engineering Company, Inc. 1961-63, president, 1963-71; president, Koch Industries, Inc. 1966-74; chairman and chief executive officer, 1967- present. He was born in Wichita, Kansas. Mr. Koch and his wife of 37 years, Liz, have two children. David H. Koch is an executive vice president and a board member of Koch Industries, Inc., which owns a diverse group of companies with about 70,000 employees and a presence in nearly 60 countries. Based in Wichita, Kan., Koch Industries is involved in refining and chemicals; process and pollution control equipment and technologies; minerals; fertilizers; polymers and fibers; commodity trading and services; and forest and consumer products. Familiar Koch companies’ brands include STAINMASTER® carpet, LYCRA® fiber, Quilted Northern® tissue and the Dixie® brand of tabletop products. Mr. Koch, who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, applies that scientific expertise in his other role as chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Koch Chemical Technology Group, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Koch Industries. Prior to joining Koch Industries in 1970, Mr. Koch worked as a research engineer and process design engineer for Amicon Corporation, in Cambridge, Mass.; Arthur D. Little, Inc., also in Cambridge, Mass.; and Halcon International, Inc. and its affiliate, the Scientific Design Company in New York City. In addition to his business activities, Mr. Koch has personally pledged and contributed more than $500 million to a wide variety of organizations and programs that further cancer research, enhance medical centers and support educational institutions, as well as programs that sustain arts and cultural institutions. Mr. Koch’s donation to the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center created the David H. Koch Center for Applied Research of Genitourinary Cancers. In 2006, The David H. Koch Cancer Research Center on Johns Hopkins University's East Baltimore medical campus was dedicated honoring Mr. Koch for his $20 million commitment to the center. In 2004, Mr. Koch received a presidential appointment to the National Cancer Advisory Board of the National Cancer Institute, and has been honored by The New York Academy of Medicine for his support of biomedical research, healthcare and education. Mr. Koch committed $100 million to the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center in 2008. The theater houses both the New York City Ballet and the New York City Opera and has been renamed the David H. Koch Theater. A $15 million gift to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., will create a new 15,000-square-foot exhibition hall dedicated to the discovery and understanding of human origins. The opening of the David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins is scheduled for March 2010. In 2006, he gave $20 million to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City to support the dinosaur exhibits, creating the David H. Koch Dinosaur Wing. Mr. Koch’s corporate leadership has been honored by the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s Double Helix award, and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s Excellence in Corporate Leadership award. He received the prestigious Corporate Citizenship Award from the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in 2004, and other recognition includes the Manhattan Republican Party's Business Statesman of the Year award in 2002 and the Entrepreneurial Leadership Award from the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship. He has also been active in the public policy field, serving on the boards of the Cato Institute and the Reason Foundation. These organizations are focused on applying market-based concepts to enhance peace, prosperity and social progress. David (Dave) Robertson is president and chief operating officer and member of the board of directors of Koch Industries, Inc. Before that, he was an executive vice president of Koch Industries. Mr. Robertson began his career with Koch companies in 1984 and has held positions with several Koch Industries subsidiaries, including president of Flint Hills Resources, LLC, president of Koch Petroleum Group, president of Koch Beef Company, and president of Koch Agriculture Company. Mr. Robertson earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing from Emporia State University, in Emporia, Kan. He and his wife, Kathy, live in Wichita and have three children. Based in Wichita, Kan., Koch Industries consists of a diverse group of companies involved in refining and chemicals; process and pollution control equipment and technologies; minerals; fertilizers; polymers and fibers; commodity trading and services; and forest and consumer products. Koch companies have a presence in nearly 60 countries and employ about 70,000 people. Familiar Koch companies’ brands include STAINMASTER® carpet, LYCRA® fiber, Quilted Northern® tissue and the Dixie® brand of tabletop products.
Charles G. Koch Chairman of the Board and CEO
David H. Koch Executive Vice President
The Chemical Technology Group serves municipalities, oil refineries and chemical plants around the globe with research and development, manufacturing and sales of process and pollution control equipment. This group employs nearly 4,500 people and includes these businesses:
• Koch-Glitsch, LP (Wichita, Kan.)
• Koch Membrane Systems, Inc. (Wilmington, Mass.)
• Koch Heat Transfer Company, LP (Houston)
• John Zink Company (Tulsa, Okla.)
• Optimized Process Designs, Inc. (Houston)
Mr. Koch is the prime contributor to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s plans to build an integrative cancer research center which will be called The David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research. Other contributions to MIT have established The David H. Koch School of Chemical Engineering Practice, and he has been honored with the dedication of the David H. Koch Biology Building at the university.
Mr. Koch serves on more than 20 non-profit boards, including:
Member, Board of Trustees, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Member, National Cancer Advisory Board of the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Md.
Governor, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York
Member, Board of Trustees, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York
Member, Board of Visitors, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston
Member, Board of Trustees, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York
Member, Board of Directors, Rockefeller University, New York
Member, Board of Trustees, House Ear Institute, Los Angeles
Member, Board of Associates, Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, Mass.
Honorary Member, Board of Trustees, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.
Life Member of the Corporation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.
Member, Board of Trustees, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.
Member, Board of Trustees, The Prostate Cancer Foundation, Los Angeles
Vice Chairman, Board of Directors, American Ballet Theatre, New York
Member, Board of Directors, American Museum of Natural History, New York
Member, Board of Trustees, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington
Member, Board of Directors, Aspen Institute, Aspen, Colo.
Member, Board of Directors, Institute of Human Origins, Phoenix, Ariz.
Member, Board of Trustees, Educational Broadcasting Corporation, Channel 13 & Channel 21, New York
Member, Board of Overseers, WGBH, Channel 2, Boston, Mass.
Member, James Madison Council, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Member, Board of Directors, The Cato Institute, Washington, D.C.
Member, Board of Directors, The Reason Foundation, Santa Monica, Calif.
Chairman, Board of Trustees, Americans for Prosperity Foundation, Washington, D.C.
Mr. Koch was born in Wichita, Kansas. He and his wife, Julia, have three children. David L. Robertson President and Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Robertson is also chairman of Georgia-Pacific Equity Holdings, LLC and Flint Hills Resources, LLC; and serves on the boards of INVISTA B.V. and Koch Chemical Technology Group, LLC, subsidiaries of Koch Industries.