Rodney O'Neal facts for kids
Rodney O'Neal is an American businessman. He used to be the boss (president and chief executive officer) of a big company called Delphi Automotive.
Rodney O'Neal's Life
Rodney O'Neal was born in Dayton, Ohio. His parents always told him how important school was. When he was young, he delivered The Dayton Daily News. At 13, he was even named "newspaper delivery boy of the year"! Later, he worked at the newspaper office before going to college.
His Education
Rodney went to college at the General Motors Institute. This school is now called Kettering University. He also earned a special advanced degree (a Master's degree) from Stanford University.
His Career
Rodney started working at General Motors in 1976. He was an engineer who helped make steering wheels. After a year, he got a promotion to a supervisor role.
Over many years, he worked in different engineering and manufacturing jobs. He worked in places like the United States, Portugal, and Canada. In 1997, he became a vice president at General Motors. He also managed a part of the company called Delphi Interior Systems.
In 1998, Delphi became its own separate company. Rodney became a vice president there. From 2007, he served as the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Delphi.
In November 2011, Rodney O'Neal got to ring the bell at the New York Stock Exchange. This was a special event to celebrate Delphi's first time selling shares to the public.
Board Memberships
Rodney O'Neal is on the board of directors for Delphi and Sprint Nextel. He is also a board member for the Michigan Manufacturers Association and Woodward, Inc.. He used to be on the board of directors for the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.
He is part of the Executive Leadership Council. This group helps African-Americans in important leadership jobs in business, education, or the community. He also helps lead Inroads. This group offers internships (work experience) to young people from different ethnic backgrounds. Rodney is also on the advisory board of Focus: HOPE. This organization in Detroit works to fight racism and poverty.
In 2015, Rodney O'Neal was honored. He was added to the Automotive Hall of Fame, which celebrates important people in the car industry.
