'Business Builder' to Receive Honorary Degree from WSU
OGDEN, Utah – Weber State University will award an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree to H. Raymond Bingham at the university’s 128th commencement Dec. 15 at 1 p.m. in the Dee Events Center.
Over the past three decades, a successful career spanning the fields of technology, chemical engineering, hospitality real estate development and most recently global investments, has taken Bingham from the four corners of the United States to the four corners of the world, where he has fulfilled his ambition of becoming a “business builder.”
In 1970, Bingham graduated from then-Weber State College with a bachelor’s degree in economics. He later earned his master’s degree in business administration from Harvard University. From there, he quickly launched his career as an entrepreneur and business leader.
As chief financial officer of N-ReN International and later as managing director for Agrico Overseas Investment Company, Bingham developed and financed joint venture investments in agricultural chemical manufacturing with African and East Asian governments. These two related ventures delivered critical technology and economic growth to developing countries.
After spending more than eight years in Europe with these companies, Bingham returned to the United States, where he joined the hospitality industry. He was responsible for financing the expansion of the Marriott Corporation’s hotel portfolio. And in 1985, after leaving Marriott, he played an instrumental role in the buyout and transformation of the Red Lion Hotel Corporation, a chain that doubled in size in the next eight years and later merged with the Doubletree Hotel Corporation.
In 1993, Bingham switched gears yet again and was named chief financial officer of Cadence Design Systems, a supplier of electronic design automation software. Six years later, he became president and chief executive officer. He stepped down from the CEO position in 2004 and served the next year as executive chairman for Cadence.
Bingham most recently accepted a position with General Atlantic LLC, a leading global private equity firm, where he serves as managing director and head of the firm’s Palo Alto office. He is responsible for developing investments in emerging economies around the world.
In addition to receiving the honorary degree, Bingham will deliver the commencement address.
Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
- Amy Hendricks, writer/editor for Media Relations
(801) 626-6346 • amyhendricks@weber.edu - Contact:
- Marsha Richter, assistant to the president
(801) 626-6573 • mrichter2@weber.edu