Montreal-based Alcan Inc. is on the move these days. As the ink dries on its deal to acquire France’s aluminum and packaging leader the Pechiney Group, Alcan makes news at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland with its announcement of “The Alcan Prize for Sustainability”, a US$1 million annual prize aimed at promoting sustainable development in the not-for-profit sector.
Travis Engen tells the Canadian Club how these two seemingly unrelated events are actually two sides of the same winning coin. Engen will relate how, while more than a century old, today this global leader in aluminum, packaging and aluminum recycling adopts a progressive mindset that views maximizing value and sustainability as the one-two punch needed for long-term success in today’s increasingly interconnected global economy. The audience will learn how Alcan’s strategy is earning the stamp of approval in the international arena and with the Company’s diverse stakeholders.
Travis Engen began his career in 1965 with Bell Aerospace, rapidly advancing to director of electronics marketing. In 1976, he was named director of marketing for Republic Electronic Industries Corp., a position he held until 1979. He then became director of government avionics at the Bendix Avionics Division. In 1983, he was appointed vice president and general manager of Bendix’s General Aviation Avionics Division.
Mr. Engen joined ITT Industries in 1985 as president and general manager, ITT Avionics. In 1987, he was named president and CEO of ITT Defence. In 1991, he was appointed executive vice president of ITT Corporation, assuming responsibility for the companies that now form ITT Industries. In subsequent years, his responsibilities grew to include ITT’s forest products, insurance, communications and information services divisions. In 1995, he was selected as ITT Industries’ first chief executive.
Having served on the Board of Alcan Inc. since 1996, Mr. Engen assumed his current position of president and CEO on March 12, 2001. Since that time, he has championed many value creation and sustainability-focused initiatives both within Alcan and the broader business community. Among these initiatives, Mr. Engen is cochair of the World Business Council on Sustainable Development’s Accounting and Reporting work group and chairman of the World Economic Forum’s Water Initiative.
