10 NEWS SUNDAY OCTOBER 29 2017 Don’t blink, says Liveris GLENDA KORPORAAL NT product shares secret to his high-flying business achievements DARWIN-BORN DowDu- Pont executive chairman An- drew Liveris has some advice for leaders under pressure. “Never blink,” he says in an interview with the Sunday Ter- ritorian. “Never show any fear. “Always show your best face to your organisation be- cause confidence starts with the leader.” Mr Liveris was speaking from Dow’s headquarters in Michigan on the eve of receiv- ing a lifetime achievement award from the Australian American Association in New York on Friday. Being a CEO, he said, was a “lonely job”. The 63-year-old has been chief executive of Dow Chemi- cals since 2004 and its chair- man since 2006. In August this year, he became executive chairman of the newly merged DowDuPont, overseeing the company with former DuPont chief Edward Breen, who is CEO of the combined group. The merger, which has just been finalised, is the culmi- nation of a strategy Mr Liveris has been pursuing since he took over as Dow chief execu- tive, having worked his way up the ranks of the company he joined as a production engin- eer in more than 40 years ago. His 13 years at the helm of a Fortune 500 company make him one of the most successful Australians in corporate America. The international success of Darwin-born Andrew Liveris has led to him being honoured with a lifetime achievement award from the Australian American Association in Reflecting on his time in the New York on Friday. The event was attended by media mogul Rupert Murdoch, and Queensland MP Warren Entsch and his wife Yolonde (inset) job, Mr Liveris talks of an in- formal network of CEOs who James McNerney, former Citi- lion takeover bid for specialty the local museum, where there future of the company’s “I sent a note saying: ‘Hey, provide moral support for each group chief executive Vikram chemical company Rohm and was a display on the founder of 50,000-plus staff around the I’m here for you if you need other as they can’t talk about Pandit, former IBM chief Haas. The deal was launched Dow.” world. me. Give me a call.’ their worries to their staff. executive Sam Palmisano, for- in 2007 and closed soon after He drove to the museum in “There were bags under my “He did. “It’s a bit of a closed club,” mer GE chief executive Jeff the financial crisis took hold in the middle of the night. eyes but I knew it was import- “There is a bit of a support he said. “The loneliness draws Immelt and former Coca-Cola 2008. “I went to the museum and I ant to appear cool and confi- group like that. You know you together.” chief executive Muhtar Kent,” Mr Liveris was devastated turned on a hologram image of dent,” he said. what everyone else goes Mr Liveris said he “bench- he said. when Dow’s joint venture Dow,” Mr Liveris said. “There were several mo- through.” marked” 27 chief executives of “Henry Kravis at KKR was partner, the Kuwait-owned “He was called Crazy Dow. ments like that along the way. Mr Liveris said there had major US companies when he a terrific friend. Dave Cote at Petrochemical Industries, “He almost bankrupted the “When you have the liveli- been discussions in the past took over as Dow CEO as a Honeywell was a terrific friend pulled out of the deal, depriv- company three times. hoods of 50,000 to 60,000 about him joining BHP. way of teaching himself the and mentor. In , Don ing the company of an expect- “I walked out of the mu- people in your hands, the ac- “I got to know Don Argus in leader’s job, studying how they Argus was tremendous. I re- ed $US9 billion in funding. seum in the early hours and I countability weighs large.” my many forays intersecting handled their jobs and speak- member calling these folk and “We were teetering on the said: ‘Not on my shift. It’s not Mr Liveris will step down with the possibility of me going ing to them about being a CEO. getting their advice.” edge of bankruptcy,” Mr Liver- going to happen.’ from his role at Dow once the to BHP,” he said. “There were a lot of people, Mr Liveris recalls one of his is said. “I was sitting in alone at “So I made a few phone calls merger and restructuring has “Ten years ago, when there like former IBM chief execu- toughest times as CEO in the the office at 4am, tapping the and found new banks and new been completed – most likely were lots of changes going on tive Lou Gerstner, Corning wake of the global financial keys I had on my key chain. credit lines.” next year. He recently reached at BHP, there was some mur- chief Wendell Weeks, former crisis in 2008 as he coped with “I looked at one of the keys With Dow on the ropes, Mr out to another CEO who he muring about me possibly Boeing chairman and CEO the fallout from a $US16.2 bil- and realised it was the key to Liveris was keenly aware of the saw was struggling. going there.” Have your ON THE MUSEUM OF THE NT SAY Tell us what you : www.haveyoursay.nt.gov.au/ museumoftheNT

The NT Government is constructing a major new Museum and associated works as part of its plan to transform the Darwin CBD into a vibrant, world-class tourism destination. The Museum of the Northern Territory will incorporate our continuous history inclusive of the world’s most ancient living culture. It will embody what it means to be a Territorian. A series of community workshops and pop-up displays where you can provide feedback will be held during October and November 2017 right across the Northern Territory. Visit our display in the Share your design ideas at: www.haveyoursay/museumoftheNT Live Darwin Hub For more information email: [email protected] Smith St Mall TODAY!

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