News & Insights

NFTC award recognizes Lee Raymond’s leadership in advancing open trade and investment

New York, NY – Continuing a proud tradition, the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today announced its “World Trade Award” winner, Lee R. Raymond, Chairman and CEO of Exxon Mobil Corporation.  Raymond will receive the award at the NFTC’s annual World Trade Dinner on November 10, 2003, in New York City.

“With more than 40 years as a top business executive for a global commercial leader, ExxonMobil’s Lee Raymond exemplifies the spirit of the NFTC World Trade Award.  His tireless efforts to advance an open and rules based world trading system make him the natural choice for such an honor.  The NFTC is proud of its over 60-year association with the Exxon Mobil Corporation, and we are honored to give our World Trade Award to the company’s renowned leader,” said Michael Jordan, Chairman of the NFTC and Chairman & CEO of EDS.

This year’s NFTC World Trade Award Committee, chaired by Rick Fuest of Active International, chose Mr. Raymond for the award based on his leadership in advancing global commerce.  In addition, all nominees for the award must be respected in the community for building consensus and promoting the benefits of open trade and investment.  Dating from 1937, NFTC’s World Trade Award was established by the Dollar Family of San Francisco in memory of Captain Robert Dollar, pioneer in American shipping and world trade and a charter member of the National Foreign Trade Council. 

The Award has been given to 47 Americans, including Government officials, industrialists, bankers, and shipping, publishing and association leaders.  Last year, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Don Evans accepted the award.  Other past winners include Cordell Hull, Secretary of State, awarded in 1938; George Schultz (Bechtel), awarded in 1974; David Rockefeller (Chase Manhattan Bank), awarded in 1964; and William E. Brock (United States Trade Representative), awarded in 1982.

Lee Raymond continues the tradition of esteemed World Trade Award nominees with a storied career in global business.  Before the merger of Exxon and Mobil on November 30, 1999, Mr. Raymond was chairman and chief executive officer of Exxon Corporation.  A Ph.D. in chemical engineering, Mr. Raymond joined Exxon in 1963 and has served in various capacities for the corporation in his four decades there.

Mr. Raymond will accept the NFTC award on November 10 alongside United States Ambassador to the U.N. John D. Negroponte, the keynote speaker at the World Trade Dinner.

The National Foreign Trade Council is a leading business organization advocating a rules-based world economy. Founded in 1914 by a group of American companies that supported an open world trading system, the NFTC now serves more than 500 member companies through its offices in Washington and New York.