John A. Georges

After graduating from Illinois, John Georges joined DuPont, where he spent 28 years in various positions, including general manager of textile fibers and chief environmental officer. In 1979, he was tapped by International Paper as its executive vice president. He later served as president and COO, followed by CEO and chairman from 1984 until his retirement in 1996. Under his leadership, International Paper became a world leader in forest and paper products. A member of the University of Illinois Foundation Board, he has served as its president. He is a former director of the New York Stock Exchange and former director of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Mr. Georges was inducted into the Grainger College of Engineering Hall of Fame in 2015.