Devin Wenig ‘88, the CEO-designate of eBay, will be the featured speaker at
Union's 221st Commencement, College officials announced today.
More than 500 students in the Class of 2015 will receive degrees during the ceremony, scheduled for 10 a.m. Sunday, June 14, on Hull Plaza. Wenig will receive an honorary doctorate of laws degree.
As president of eBay Marketplaces, Wenig leads the eBay, classifieds and StubHub businesses globally.
He will become CEO of the new eBay company when eBay and PayPal separate into independent publicly traded companies later this year.
“I am very pleased that Devin Wenig has accepted our invitation to speak at this year's Commencement,” said Union President Stephen C. Ainlay. “I've had the opportunity to get to know Devin during his time at both Reuters and at eBay. As a leader in the ever-developing world of technological resources and a Union alumnus, I'm certain he'll have much to say that will interest the Class of 2015.”
Wenig joined eBay in September 2011 after more than 18 years at Thomson Reuters, the global media organization. From April 2008 to August 2011, he served as CEO of its largest division, Thomson Reuters Markets. In that role, he led the global financial services and media businesses, which provide information, analytics and technology services to professionals in the financial services, media and corporate markets globally, as well as to individuals through its consumer media arm.
From 2006 to 2008, Wenig was chief operating officer of Reuters Group PLC, a provider of financial market data. He also served on the Reuters Board and held numerous positions in the organization, including leading several divisions from 2003 to 2006 as president of Business Divisions.
He received a B.A. in political science from Union and a J.D. from Columbia University Law School. Wenig serves on the boards of March of Dimes and is a member of the World Economic Forum's Young Global Leaders.
The College will also award an honorary doctorate of letters degree to Marjorie Agosin, the Luella LaMer Slaner Professor in Latin American Studies and professor of Spanish at Wellesley College. An award-winning poet, human rights activist and literary critic, Agosin has dedicated her life to social causes. She was nominated by Erika Nelson, associate professor of German.