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Edward Whitacre

Edward Whitacre

Keynote Speaker: Former CEO of AT&T and General Motors and author of "American Turnaround: Reinventing AT&T and GM and the Way We Do Business in the USA"

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Edward Whitacre Biography

Edward E. Whitacre Jr. was born on November 4, 1941 in Ennis, Texas. He graduated from Texas Tech University in 1964 with a bachelor of science in industrial engineering. He began his career with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in 1963 as a facility engineer in Lubbock, Texas. He then progressed through a series of assignments in the company's operational departments in Texas, Arkansas and Kansas.

From 1982 to 1985, Whitacre headed Southwestern Bell's Kansas Division, leading the state division through the divestiture of the Bell System. He then moved to corporate headquarters where he served as group president, vice president of revenues and public affairs, and vice chairman and chief financial officer.

Texas Tech nominated and selected Whitacre as a Distinguished Engineer in 1985 to recognize his accomplishments.

In recognition of his outstanding work and leadership at Southwestern Bell, Whitacre was made president and chief operating officer in October 1988, taking responsibility for the company's six primary subsidiaries. Within 16 months, he became chairman and chief executive officer. In 1995, the company changed its name to SBC Communications.

At the request of Chancellor John T. Montford, Whitacre served as the national campaign chairman for Texas Tech's Horizon Fundraising Campaign from 1996 to 2001.

Under Whitacre's leadership, SBC made significant domestic and international investments. In addition, SBC established several groundbreaking strategic partnerships with companies such as Yahoo! and EchoStar, enabling SBC to set the pace for DSL sales as well as enter the video market. SBC joined with BellSouth to create Cingular Wireless, which in 2004 acquired AT&T Wireless.

Whitacre led on a disciplined growth strategy and through a series of industry-changing mergers and acquisitions, including the 2005 acquisition of AT&T Corp., after which the company adopted the name, AT&T Inc.

SBC and the new AT&T have been repeatedly named by Fortune magazine as the most admired telecommunications company in America and the world. Forbes magazine named AT&T "Company of the Year" for 2006.

After a successful 17-year tenure as AT&T chairman, CEO and president, Whitacre announced his retirement in 2007.

Whitacre joined General Motors Company (GM) as chairman when the new company launched in July 2009. He was elected chairman and CEO on December 1, 2009. He was selected based on his diligence, attention to detail, and decisive management style, which helped him to rebuild AT&T into the largest telecommunications company in the world. These qualities helped him overhaul GM's management and brands.

In his expanded leadership role, Whitacre drove GM's vision to design, build and sell the world's best vehicles.

Whitacre shook up the company with a number of managerial changes, including luring Chief Financial Officer Chris Liddell from Microsoft Corp. He also combined sales and marketing responsibilities and consolidated control of GM's core North American market under one executive.

In one year after declaring bankruptcy, the company earned $1.3 billion and prepared to pay back the government's $50 million bailout.

Whitacre stepped down as CEO of GM in September 2010 and retired as chairman of the board on December 31, 2010.

Whitacre also serves on the boards of Exxon Mobil Corporation and the PGA Tour, and previously served on the board of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation. He serves on the board of the Institute for International Economics and is a member of The Business Council. He previously served on the President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee and the board of Anheuser-Busch Companies.

Whitacre's leadership extends into the community where he has been actively involved with the Boy Scouts of America, the Board of Regents of Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and United Way.

In recognition of his commitment to business and community, BusinessWeek named Whitacre one of the Top 25 Executives of the Year in 2010. He also has earned a number of awards for his contributions to business and civic affairs, including the Corporate Leadership Award from the National Minority Supplier Development Council and the Obelisk Leadership Award.

In February 2013, Whitacre released the book "American Turnaround: Reinventing AT&T and GM and the Way We Do Business in the USA," a business memoir.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Edward Whitacre and other top speakers and celebrities.

Edward Whitacre Videos

Reinventing the Way We Do Business, featuring Ed Whitacre
Ed Whitacre "American Turnaround" | Authors at Google
Ed Whitacre - Texas Tech Graduate and Former Chairman and CEO ...

How do I book Edward Whitacre to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Edward Whitacre for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Edward Whitacre, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Edward Whitacre or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Edward Whitacre for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Edward Whitacre, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is $30,000 - $50,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Edward Whitacre, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Edward Whitacre speak about?

Edward Whitacre is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Business Leadership, Business Growth, Authors, Sales, Marketing, Leadership, Economy and Finance.

Where does Edward Whitacre travel from?

Edward Whitacre generally travels from San Antonio, TX, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Edward Whitacre?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Edward Whitacre for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Edward Whitacre for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Edward Whitacre or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Edward Whitacre is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Business Leadership, Business Growth and Authors. The estimated speaking fee range to book Edward Whitacre for live events is $30,000 - $50,000. Please contact us for virtual event fees. Edward Whitacre generally travels from San Antonio, TX, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Geoffrey Moore, R "Ray" Wang and Don Peppers. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Edward Whitacre for an upcoming event.

Edward Whitacre Videos

Reinventing the Way We Do Business, featuring Ed Whitacre
Ed Whitacre "American Turnaround" | Authors at Google
Ed Whitacre - Texas Tech Graduate and Former Chairman and CEO ...

Edward Whitacre News

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