Dick Levy
Encyclopedia
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. 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.
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
. His "managerial astuteness" was an important element of Varian's commercial success in the medical field.
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.
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
. 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.
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Varian Medical Systems
Varian Medical Systems
Varian Medical Systems of Palo Alto, California, is a manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, proton therapy, and brachytherapy. The company supplies informatics software for managing comprehensive cancer...
from 1999 to 2006 and has been Chairman of Varian Medical Systems' Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
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. 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.
Levy has been described as a scientist and businessman of "remarkable vision and tenacious pragmatism" whose work led to the success of the Linac
Linear particle accelerator
A linear particle accelerator is a type of particle accelerator that greatly increases the velocity of charged subatomic particles or ions by subjecting the charged particles to a series of oscillating electric potentials along a linear beamline; this method of particle acceleration was invented...
as a medical device, and to significant advances in radiation oncology
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy , radiation oncology, or radiotherapy , sometimes abbreviated to XRT or DXT, is the medical use of ionizing radiation, generally as part of cancer treatment to control malignant cells.Radiation therapy is commonly applied to the cancerous tumor because of its ability to control...
. His "managerial astuteness" was an important element of Varian's commercial success in the medical field.
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.
A native of Cincinatti, Ohio Levy graduated from Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
in Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover is a town along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2010 census. CNN and Money magazine rated Hanover the sixth best place to live in America in 2011, and the second best in 2007....
and received his Ph.D. in nuclear chemistry from the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
at Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
. 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
Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is a term which refers to the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States. The region is home to many of the world's largest technology corporations...
's wealthiest executives.