Richard "Dick" Meyer Levy (born 1939) was the Chief Executive Officer of Varian Medical Systems from 1999 to 2006 and has been Chairman of Varian Medical Systems' Board of Directors since 2002. Levy led the company during a period of rapid growth after it was spun off from Varian Associates in 1999. Described as a "hands on CEO", Levy was known to visit every one of his company's facilities, and took steps to empower the employees.[1] Under his leadership, the company nearly tripled in size, and now dominates the medical radiation equipment market worldwide. Levy retired as CEO and was succeeded by Timothy E. Guertin in February, 2006.[2]
Levy has been described as a scientist and businessman of "remarkable vision and tenacious pragmatism" whose work led to the success of the Linac as a medical device, and to significant advances in radiation oncology.[3] His "managerial astuteness" was an important element of Varian's commercial success in the medical field. [3]
Levy remains chairman of the board of Varian Medical Systems. A well-known philanthropist, he was given the 2010 David Packard Award for civic engagement by the Joint Venture Silicon Valley Network.[4]
A native of Cincinatti, Ohio Levy graduated from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire and received his Ph.D. in nuclear chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley, California.[4] Married to Susan Lewis Levy since 1964, Levy has been an employee of the Varian companies since 1968.
Levy's compensation in 2004 amounted to $9,540,851 and in 2005 it exceeded $19,320,000, making him one of Silicon Valley's wealthiest executives.