CEO Series
Leaders from organizations headquartered in the greater Charlotte area and beyond are hosted through the CEO Series program. These key decision-makers share information about their respective companies from a global perspective, the role they play in economies worldwide and their views on financial markets across the world.
Current and former CEOs who have participated in this program include:
- Lynn Good, Chairman, President and CEO of Duke Energy Corporation
- Michael Tarwater, President and CEO of Carolinas HealthCare System
- Linda Hudson, CEO of BAE Systems (2009-2014)
- Jacques Besnainou, President and CEO of AREVA, Inc. (2008-2012)
- Chris Kearney, Chairman, President CEO of SPX Flow
- Dan DiMicco, CEO of Nucor (2000 – 2012)
- Bob Morgan, President and CEO of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce
Photo: Lynn Good, Chairman, President and CEO of Duke Energy Corporation with representatives from AREVA
Photo L-H: Vicki Sutton, WACC Director and Michael Tarwater, President and Chief Executive Officer, Carolinas HealthCare System
CEO Series Events
March 3rd, 2026: WACC CEO Series with Kurk Wilks, President and Chief Executive Officer of MANN+HUMMEL
The World Affairs Council of Charlotte is pleased to welcome Kurk Wilks, President and Chief Executive Officer of MANN+HUMMEL, as a featured speaker in our CEO Series on March 3, 2026. As the global leader of a German-headquartered company with more than 21,000 employees across 80+ locations worldwide, Mr. Wilks offers a unique perspective on German–U.S. economic ties, transatlantic leadership, and managing complex global operations in an increasingly interconnected world.
November 4, 2025: WACC CEO Series with Jörg Wuttke, Partner at DGA Group in Washington, former CEO of BASF in China, and former Head of the European Chamber of Commerce
Join the World Affairs Council of Charlotte on Tuesday, November 4 for a timely CEO Series luncheon with Jörg Wuttke—one of the world’s leading voices on business in China. With decades of executive leadership and policy experience in Asia, including roles as CEO of BASF China and President of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, Wuttke brings rare, firsthand insight into the challenges of navigating China’s complex business landscape.
August 26, 2025: WACC CEO Series with Oliver Wollinsky, Chief Production Officer of Scout Motors
The World Affairs Council of Charlotte invites you to a special conversation with Oliver Wollinsky as he shares how Scout Motors is ushering in a bold new era of American automotive manufacturing. Wollinsky will discuss how Scout Motors, backed by the manufacturing and production expertise of Volkswagen Group, is reimagining the legendary Scout as a next-generation electric vehicle. Heralded as the world’s first utility vehicle capable of both off-road adventure and family duty, the Scout was known as the “8-day-a-week truck.” Its legacy lives on in a passionate community that still uses their Scouts on farms, in the wilderness, and on family road trips.
February 20, 2025: WACC CEO Series with Marc McGrath, Regional CEO Americas, Schaeffler Group USA Inc.
Join us for an insightful WACC CEO Series lunch event with Marc McGrath, Regional CEO of Americas for Schaeffler Group USA Inc., as our featured speaker on Feb. 20. Schaeffler, a global leader in motion technology, has been at the forefront of innovation for over 75 years, pioneering advancements that make mobility more efficient, intelligent, and sustainable.