Edward D. Breen

Edward D. Breen
Name	Edward D. Breen
Birth date	6 January 1956
Birth place	Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.
Alma mater	Goldey–Beacom College
Occupation	Business executive
Known for	Leadership of Tyco International, DuPont, DowDuPont
Title	Executive Chairman and CEO, DuPont de Nemours, Inc.
Predecessor	Ellen Kullman

Edward D. Breen is an American business executive renowned for his transformative leadership in revitalizing major corporations following periods of crisis. He is best known for his tenure as Chairman and CEO of Tyco International, where he successfully restored its financial integrity and reputation, and for his subsequent leadership in the merger and separation of DuPont and Dow. Breen's career is marked by strategic restructuring, a focus on corporate governance, and steering complex chemical and manufacturing entities.

Early life and education

Edward D. Breen was born on January 6, 1956, in Wilmington, Delaware. He attended Salesianum School in Wilmington before pursuing higher education at Goldey–Beacom College, located in Wilmington, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. His early professional development was shaped in the Delaware Valley region, a major hub for the chemical industry and corporate headquarters, providing foundational exposure to the business landscape he would later dominate.

Career at General Instrument and Motorola

Breen began his executive career at General Instrument, a pioneer in broadband and cable television technologies. He held several leadership positions, eventually becoming the company's President and Chief Operating Officer. Following the acquisition of General Instrument by Motorola in 2000, Breen was appointed President of Motorola and served as CEO of its renamed Broadband Communications Sector. During this period, he managed significant operations in set-top box manufacturing and navigated the rapidly evolving telecommunications market.

Tenure at Tyco International

In July 2002, Breen was recruited as Chairman and CEO of Tyco International, succeeding L. Dennis Kozlowski during the massive accounting scandal that had devastated the conglomerate. His immediate actions involved replacing the entire board of directors and senior management, cooperating with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and implementing rigorous corporate governance reforms. Breen oversaw the strategic breakup of Tyco, splitting it into three independent publicly traded companies: Tyco (fire protection and security), Covidien (healthcare), and Tyco Electronics (later TE Connectivity). This restructuring is widely credited with saving the company and restoring shareholder value.

Leadership at DuPont and DowDuPont

Breen joined the board of directors of DuPont in 2015 and was swiftly named Chairman and CEO following the departure of Ellen Kullman. He played a pivotal role in orchestrating the historic merger of equals between DuPont and the Dow Chemical Company, forming DowDuPont in 2017. As Executive Chairman of DowDuPont, Breen led the planning for the subsequent separation of the combined entity into three independent, publicly traded companies focused on agriculture (Corteva), materials science (Dow Inc.), and specialty products (the new DuPont de Nemours, Inc.). He remained as Executive Chairman and CEO of the new DuPont following the separations in 2019.

Board memberships and other roles

Beyond his executive roles, Breen has served on the board of directors of several prominent organizations. He has been a director for Comcast since 2004, where he serves on the Finance and Audit Committee. He also served on the board of Lockheed Martin and was a member of the Business Roundtable. His expertise in corporate governance and mergers and acquisitions has made him a sought-after director for major S&P 500 Index corporations.

Personal life

Been maintains a relatively private personal life. He is married and has children. A notable figure in the business community, he is recognized for his philanthropic engagements, particularly in the Wilmington area. His leadership style, characterized by directness and operational discipline, has been extensively studied in business school case studies on corporate turnarounds and post-merger integration.

Category:American chief executives Category:American businesspeople Category:1956 births Category:Living people Category:People from Wilmington, Delaware Category:Goldey–Beacom College alumni