James C. McClung
Chairman
Jim McClung is a recognized expert on building and managing results-oriented businesses and expanding global markets, the corporate governance required to operate them, and the development of global executives. His more than 30 years of global business executive experience has taken him to more than 75 countries, in addition to living in Africa and Europe. Jim frequently is asked by public and private companies, media and academic institutions to contribute his expertise regarding innovative management of profitable operations, global marketing and alliance strategies. He serves on the boards of privately owned companies and public corporations in machinery, chemicals, consumer and service businesses.
During his career, Jim established a consistent reputation for bottom-line and turnaround management excellence across a diversified portfolio of machinery, chemical and consumer sectors. These have included such businesses as: food machinery; defense; automotive equipment and appearance chemicals; mining and material handling equipment; industrial and agricultural chemicals; petroleum and airlines equipment; and distribution of consumable and durable products.
In these businesses, he accelerated growth by developing global markets (in both developed and developing countries) and expanding the customer base through innovative marketing and strategic alliance and sourcing strategies. He developed new technologies and production processes to improve capabilities and operational performance to achieve profitable growth. Due to his global innovative expertise, as early as the 1980s he was a pioneer and driving force in developing FMC's business in China, India, the Former Soviet Republics and Asia.
Jim has held executive/management-level positions at FMC Corporation, both domestically and globally. Most recently he served as a senior vice president and executive officer of FMC (a $4.5 billion company). He served as president of African and later president of European operations. He concurrently served as director of FMC Corporation (UK), Ltd; director of FMC Europe S.A. (Petroleum Equipment France); and president of FMC's Food Machinery operations in France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain and Belgium. After his responsibilities in Europe, he managed FMC's largest chemical operation. Following this assignment, and for the next 15 years, he was vice president and executive officer for all of FMC's businesses outside the US (revenues of $2.5 billion).
He now serves as a board director for Alticor (Amway); Nanophase Technologies Corporation (a nanotechnology company); NCCI Holdings, Inc. (workers compensation insurance rating and statistical agency); and Hu-Friedy (dental instruments and dental products).
In addition, he was a founding member of the U.S. Russia Business Council and is active in other global business organizations such as the Japan American Society, Economic Club of Chicago, the Executives' Club of Chicago and the Chicago Council of Global Relations. Jim serves as a board director at the College of Wooster in Ohio, and at the Thunderbird School of International Management. He also has worked on behalf of a number of civic, cultural, community and educational organizations, such as Chicago's Ravinia Festival and the Midwest American Heart Association.
Jim has a Ph.D. from Michigan State University, an MA from the University of Kansas and a BA from the College of Wooster.