Raymond Watson

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Raymond L. Watson was Chairman of Walt Disney Productions from 1983-1984. He served on the Disney Board from 1972 until March of 2004.

Watson is currently Vice Chairman of the Board Emeritus Public Policy Institute of California.

Raymond Watson, former president of The Irvine Company, served as chief planner for The Irvine Company during the '60s and '70s.

After rising through the ranks at The Irvine Company and serving as its president and CEO from 1973 to 1977, Watson left to form his own firm, Newport Development Company, where he served as president and partner until he returned to The Irvine Company in 1983, at the request of Donald Bren.

Now retired, he currently serves as a board member of The Irvine Company. Watson is a former trustee of the University of California, Irvine Foundation and a former member of The Paul Merage School of Business Dean's Advisory Board. He and his wife, Elsa, are lifetime members of the UCI Chancellor's Club. Watson was chair of the Daniel G. Aldrich Socient and in 1997, was honored with the Center for Real Estate Lifetime Achievement Award.

In 2004, he retired from Walt Disney Company's Board of Directors after serving 30 years, including two years as chairman. For his many contributions to the founding and growth of the Irvine community, he was honored in 2005 with the naming of the pedestrian bridge that connects the University of California, Irvine to University Center, across the street from campus.

In 2006, Raymond Watson was awarded The Medal by the University of California, Irvine. The Medal is the highest honor the university bestows.

Preceded by E. Cardon Walker

Disney Chairmen 1983–1984

Succeeded by Michael Eisner

Template:Business-bio