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  • February 1996
  • Case
  • HBS Case Collection

Eastman Chemical Company: Building a Board from Scratch

By: Jay W. Lorsch and Samanta Graff
  • Format:Print
  • | Pages:17
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Abstract

Eastman Chemical Co. spun off from Kodak in 1993. The CEO of Eastman, Earnest Deavenport did not want the new company's board any members of the Kodak board to include, so he initiated a deliberate and thorough process to build an entirely new board that he hoped would be on the cutting edge. This case describes the selection process and documents the backgrounds of the chosen directors. Discusses the board's first year at work, and it records the reflections "one year in" of Deavenport and some of the board members.

Keywords

Corporate Governance; Management Teams; Selection and Staffing; Chemical Industry

Citation

Lorsch, Jay W., and Samanta Graff. "Eastman Chemical Company: Building a Board from Scratch." Harvard Business School Case 496-043, February 1996.
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About The Author

Jay W. Lorsch

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More from the Authors
  • A Nonprofit Board in Transition at Farrington Nature Linc By: Jay Lorsch and Emily Irving
  • Uber in 2017: One Bumpy Ride By: Suraj Srinivasan, Jay W. Lorsch and Quinn Pitcher
  • Understanding Boards of Directors: A Systems Perspective By: Jay W. Lorsch
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