Charles O. Holliday, Jr., has served as chairman of Royal Dutch Shell PLC since May 2015, having previously served as a nonexecutive director since September 2010. He is the former chair of the board of directors (1999–2009) and chief executive officer (1998–2008) of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co., where he began his career in 1970 as an engineer. Under Mr. Holliday’s direction, DuPont established the mission to achieve sustainable growth—increasing shareholder and societal value while decreasing the company’s environmental footprint. He coauthored Walking the Talk, which details the business case for sustainable development and corporate responsibility.

Mr. Holliday was elected to the NAE in 2004 for his leadership in DuPont’s transformation to sustainable growth through biotechnology, high-performance materials, improved safety, and consumer protection. He was elected chair of the National Academy of Engineering in 2012. He chaired the NRC Committee on Research Universities and served on the NRC Committee on America’s Climate Choices.

Mr. Holliday is former chair of the Bank of America Corporation, a presiding director of Deere & Company, and a founding member of the International Business Council. He also previously chaired the following organizations: the Business Roundtable’s Task Force for Environment, Technology and Economy; the World Business Council for Sustainable Development; the Business Council; and the Society of Chemical Industry–American Section. He served on the National Infrastructure Advisory Council.

He is a licensed professional engineer (PE) and graduated with a BS degree in industrial engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1970. He has also received three honorary doctorates.