Paul Witkay - Founder & CEO
 |
|
Biography
Paul Witkay founded the Alliance of Chief Executives in 1996. He believed that chief executives have a wealth of knowledge and experience that would be extremely valuable to other executives if only given an opportunity to share their knowledge with each other. He created the Alliance with the goal to bring chief executives together to create new opportunities, address their issues and challenges and have some fun.
Paul brings over twenty-five years of management and senior executive experience to the Alliance of Chief Executives. His diverse experience ranges from ownership of a highly successful executive search and consulting firm to senior executive positions for a $6 billion international manufacturing organization. His personal experience in strategic planning and business management with companies of all sizes has helped to create an incredibly diverse organization.
Paul began his career in the process industries for Amoco Oil Corporation and Dow Chemical. In 1979, Paul founded Witkay Associates. Witkay Associates provided professional support to key executives in their search for a correct match between individual goals and business opportunities.
Subsequent to his development of Witkay Associates, Paul joined Air Liquide Corporation, the world's leading producer of industrial gases, where he served in a variety of executive positions. Among Paul's numerous responsibilities was the leadership of VitalAire Corporation in the United States. Under Paul's leadership, the VitalAire organization was recognized for achieving the highest standards of quality in the industry.
Paul's undergraduate education was in Chemical Engineering at the University of Illinois. He later received his MBA from Saint Mary's College in Moraga, California. In addition, he is a graduate of the INSEAD Executive Management program in Fontainebleau, France.
Over the years, Paul's community activities have included:
- Board of Directors, Junior Achievement
- Board of Directors, Bay Area Council
- Board of Advisors, The Roberts Enterprise Development Fund; "Partners for Profit"
- Board of Trustees, Jurika & Voyles Mutual Fund Group
- Chairman, Private Industry Council for Contra Costa County
- Adaptive Business Leaders Organization
Paul lives in Alamo with his wife, Cathy, and their three children, Michael, Courtney, and Kelsey. He is an avid golfer and enjoys basketball, skiing, travel and reading.