3M: Inge G. Thulin

Inge G. Thulin began his career with 3M Europe in 1979, and assumed key roles in marketing, sales and management over the course of his career. In 2003, he was appointed 3M’s executive vice president for international operations and, in 2011, was named executive vice president and chief operating officer. In less than a year, Inge was appointed president and chief executive officer, with the subsequent addition of chairman of the board to his duties.

3M is a science-based company, and Inge recognizes the importance of investing in research and development. This investment extends to the elevation of the company’s brand promise of 3M Science. Applied to Life.™ 3M applies science in collaborative ways to improve lives and create solutions to global problems. With $30 billion in sales, the company’s 90,000 employees connect with customers around the world.

3M consistently ranks among the world’s most admired, most respected and most ethical companies. 3M recently earned recognition by being named to Ethisphere’s list of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for three consecutive years. This year, 3M was recognized as the company millennials would most like to work for, topping the 2016 Millennial Career Survey from the National Society for High School Scholars. Sustainability is also engrained throughout the company’s portfolio of businesses. For the sixteenth consecutive year, 3M was listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index in 2015. A strong believer in teamwork and collaboration, Inge has invested significantly in leadership development programs for 3M’s people. The return on this investment is reflected in 3M’s recognition on Chief Executive Magazine’s 2016 list of the Best Companies for Leaders.

In addition to his 3M responsibilities, Inge serves on the board of directors of Chevron and the World Childhood Foundation. His external global business engagement includes membership on the Business Council, Council on Foreign Relations and Business Roundtable; in 2016 he was also appointed by President Obama to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations. Inge supports the community through membership on the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, and in 2015 served as chairman of the Greater Twin Cities United Way Campaign.

A native of Sweden, Inge earned degrees in economics and marketing from the University of Gothenburg.

Inge has received the following honors and recognition: National Committee on U.S.-China Relations Honoree (2012), Peter G. Peterson Business Statesmanship Award from the Committee for Economic Development (2015), the Lucia Trade Award from the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce (2015) and the Hendrickson Medal for Ethical Leadership (2016).