For immediate release: November 10, 2005
Contact:
Helen Capellaro, 608/262-9213
The University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business will honor Michael Lehman with its Distinguished Business Alumnus Award on November 11, 2005. The award is given in recognition of lifetime career accomplishments and outstanding public service, based on significant contributions to the business community and to society.
Lehman was executive vice president of corporate resources and chief financial officer of Sun Microsystems in Santa Clara, Cal. He retired from the company in 2002. He earned his undergraduate degree from UW-Madison School of Business in 1974. After serving as senior manager in the San Francisco office of Price Waterhouse, Lehman joined Sun Microsystems in 1987.
During his more than 15 years with Sun, Lehman oversaw the company’s finance, legal, real estate and information resources functions, as well as its public policy efforts and corporate planning and strategy group. During his tenure, Sun’s net revenues increased by more than five fold, rising from more than $2 billion to more than $11 billion during the 1990s.
Following his retirement, he was named a member of Sun’s board of directors. He also serves on the boards of Net IQ and Echelon Corp., both in San Jose, Cal., and Milwaukee-based MGIC.
In addition to a successful business career, Lehman has been an outstanding friend to the UW-Madison. His significant gift to the School of Business in 2002 helped the school recruit and retain top faculty in times of increasing competition from other schools. He has served as a member and chair of the school’s Dean’s Advisory Board and is currently a member of the board of directors for the UW Foundation and the business school’s Nicholas Center for Applied Corporate Finance.
“I am pleased to acknowledge Michael Lehman’s career accomplishments and dedication to the School of Business with this award,” said Michael Knetter, dean of the School of Business. “Mike joins an esteemed group of alumni who have received this prestigious honor, and he is a fine example of the quality of individuals within our alumni network.”
Lehman will receive his award at a special event at the business school’s Fluno Center for Executive Education. He is the 69th School of Business alumnus to receive this award.
