Purdue News
Purdue News
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September 2003 Patrick Wang
Patrick Wang serves as chairman and chief executive of Hong Kong-based Johnson Electric, which he has grown to a company with almost $1 billion in annual sales. Wang became a director of the company in 1976, was promoted to managing director in 1984 and was elected chairman and chief executive of the group in 1996. Under Wang's guidance, Johnson Electric grew from a $100,000 company with one American customer to the second largest micromotor manufacturer in the world, whose customers include Hamilton Beach, Craftsman, General Motors and Hitachi. Today, Johnson Electric is a global supplier of electric micromotors, motor systems and other components to five major market segments: automotive, home appliances, power tools, personal care and business equipment. The Johnson Motors Division produces about 1.5 million motors per day and exports its products to 20 countries, with 70 percent of sales being to customers outside of Asia. He joined Johnson Electric shortly after graduation. At the time the company was best known for producing motors for high-end model racing cars, but Wang's development of a motor for a hand-held hair dryer quickly changed the direction and scope of the company. For his achievements in growing Johnson Electric, Wang earned an honorable mention in the Forbes May 2002 listing of Asian businessmen of the year. Wang received both his bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering from Purdue University in 1972. He was named a Purdue Outstanding Electrical Engineer in 1998 and a Distinguished Engineering Alumnus in 2001. He also is a member of the university's President's Council. He has received several business awards, including the International Award for Business Excellence from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California. Wang is active in the Hong Kong community and serves on the board of the Provisional Hong Kong Science Park Company Ltd., the Hong Kong/European Union Business Corporation Committee and the Hong Kong-United States Economic Cooperation Committee. He also is involved in education as a council member to both the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the University of Hong Kong. He is a member of Purdue's University Campaign Steering Committee, and his $5 million gift continues a history of financial support of the university. The gift will support the School of Electrical Engineering's campaign of more than $128 million. The campaign is raising money for a new building and renovations to existing facilities, as well as faculty and student funding. Wang married his wife, Lucy, in 1978. The couple has three children: Austin, Joyce and Grace. Writer: Matt Holsapple, (765) 494-2073, mholsapple@purdue.edu Related Web site: |
