Polk

Michael B. Polk ’82, president and chief executive officer of Newell Rubbermaid, will deliver the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management’s 28th Durland Lecture Monday, March 14, at 5 p.m. in 120 Physical Sciences Building. The lecture is free and open to the public with limited seating.

Newell Rubbermaid is an American worldwide marketer of consumer and commercial products including Rubbermaid; Sharpie markers; Paper Mate, Parker and Waterman pens; Aprica and Graco children’s products; Calphalon cookware and kitchen electrics; Irwin, Lenox and Hilmor tools; Levolor window décor; and Goody hair care accessories.

In 1999, Newell Co. acquired Rubbermaid and Graco in a megamerger worth $5.8 billion and later renamed the combined firm Newell Rubbermaid. Last December, Newell Rubbermaid announced that it would acquire Jarden for more than $15 billion. The combined company will be known as Newell Brands, and 55 percent will be owned by Newell’s shareholders. The company will have estimated annual sales of $16 billion.

Polk joined Newell Rubbermaid as president and CEO in July 2011. He has been a member of the Newell Rubbermaid board of directors since 2009.

The Durland Lecture series was initiated in 1983 by Roy H. Park and a group of supporters. Durland lecturers have included Thomas W. Jones ’69, co-chairman and CEO of Citigroup Asset Management; Abby Joseph Cohen ’73, managing director of Goldman Sachs; Mark Bertolini, MBA ’84, CEO of Aetna; and Lucio A. Noto, MBA ’62, chairman and CEO of Mobil Corp.

Sarah Magnus-Sharpe is director of public relations and communications at Johnson.