Inge Thulin has been 3M’s president and chief executive officer for more than three years, capping a career with the company that has spanned nearly four decades.
A native of Sweden, Inge earned degrees in economics and marketing from the University of Gothenburg in 1978. About a year later, he joined the sales and marketing team in 3M Sweden, and has since lived and worked around the world.
In 2003, Inge became executive vice president for international operations and, in 2011, he became executive vice president and chief operating officer. It was less than a year later that he became president and CEO, followed soon after with the addition of the chairmanship of 3M’s Board of Directors.
“When you have a company as diverse – in every sense of the word – as 3M, it’s important to have diverse leaders who collaborate and work together as a team,” Inge says. “I was raised and worked all over the world, and it all comes together when we invent new ways to meet customers’ needs, both locally and globally.”
Inge is a big believer in the power of teamwork and strong ethics. Under his leadership, 3M has invested significantly in sustainability and in research and development, as well as created a robust Code of Conduct and leadership development programs.
Inge sits on the board of the Chevron Corporation and is a member of The Business Council, Council on Foreign Relations and Business Roundtable. He is also chairman of the Greater Twin Cities (Minnesota) United Way Campaign for 2015.