Industry & Services >> CEO Interviews >> July 16, 2001
John T. Ryan, III, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, joined MSA in
1969 as Assistant to the Director of Product Planning and was promoted
to Regional Coordinator for MSA International and Manager, South
America, MSA International in 1975. He was named a Vice President of MSA
International in 1978 and elected a Director of MSA in 1981. In 1982 he
was elected a Vice President of the company. Other appointments include
Executive Vice President with oversight of US Operations (1986),
President (1990) and Chairman & CEO (1991). Mr. Ryan graduated Magna Cum
Laude from the University of Notre Dame in 1965 with a BA degree in
Political Science and went on to earn his MBA degree from the Harvard
University Graduate School of Business Administration in 1969. He served
as a U.S. Army Officer (Military Intelligence) in the Army Reserves from
1965 to 1967. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations;
Director for Advisory Council, College of Business, University of Notre
Dame; Director and member of the Executive Committee for World Affairs
Council of Pittsburgh; member of the Executive Committee and Trustee,
Allegheny Conference of Community Development; Trustee, Pittsburgh
Regional Alliance; past Chairman, International Safety Equipment
Association. From 1996 to 2000, he was Chairman of the Pittsburgh Branch
of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. John was born August 6, 1943,
in Pittsburgh and he and his family reside in Squirrel Hill. Profile
TWST: Can we begin with a brief historical sketch of the company and anoverview of Mine Safety Appliances as it is today?
Mr. Ryan: Our mission is that men and women may work in safety,