Derek Hathaway

Recently Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Harsco Corporation

Derek Hathaway Poster

Rush Award

Leading With Integrity

Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Stern Center, Great Room – 7:00 p.m.

Topical Background
According to a recent Gallup Poll, 80% of Americans believe that the moral values of our country are getting worse. Scandals and corruption in government, healthcare, law and many other sectors of our society appear to have eroded public confidence both in public and private institutions. Government scandals from both sides of the aisle have scorched the nation’s trust in the elected leadership of our government. Access to quality, trustworthy health care also remains an important issue as 59% of the country believes that the U.S. healthcare system has “major problems.” In our legal system, two-thirds of lawyers report having knowledge of “bill-padding” among their colleagues, while 55% of lawyers themselves report billing for unnecessary work. The crisis of confidence is even more obvious in the business sector.

Only three out of ten Americans reported in a recent poll that they believe Wall Street will make the right decisions regarding the current recession. In addition to a general mistrust of Wall Street, recent multi-billion dollar scandals involving business leaders, such as those involving Bernie Madoff and Robert Allen Stanford, have also outraged the public. These events highlight a great desire for a financial system based on integrity which is the steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code. For one to act with integrity means to act consistently with what one says is important. When the leaders of an institution exhibit integrity not only do they show moral rectitude, but they also allow for their organization to prosper due to an increased climate of trust.

About the Speaker

Derek Hathaway retired in 2008 as chairman and chief executive officer of the Harsco Corporation, one of the world’s leading industrial services companies with businesses in construction, steel, energy and railways. During his time at the Harsco Corporation, he oversaw the growth of the company’s market capitalization from $250 million in 1994 to over $5 billion in 2008.

Prior to his role at the Harsco Corporation, Hathaway, a native of the United Kingdom, founded a firm that manufactured industrial heating units in Birmingham. Six years later, when his company went public and was acquired by Harsco, he moved to the United States to work at Harsco’s headquarters near Harrisburg, PA.

In addition to his corporate success, Hathaway has served on numerous boards of public corporations and charitable institutions. He has special interests in health care, education and the administration of the law. In 2008, Hathaway was honored for his work by Queen Elizabeth II with the Order of the British Empire. He has also been awarded the celebrated Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Hathaway also addresses young entrepreneurs and business students about business philosophy.

Video of the Program