Doug Baker, 55, is chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Ecolab Inc. A trusted partner at more than one million customer locations, Ecolab is the global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services that protect people and vital resources. With 2013 sales of $13 billion and 45,000 associates, Ecolab delivers comprehensive solutions and on-site service to promote safe food, maintain clean environments, optimize water and energy use and improve operational efficiencies for customers in the food, healthcare, energy, hospitality and industrial markets in more than 170 countries around the world. Ecolab was recently ranked #2 on the Barron’s 500, #6 on Newsweek’s list of the World’s Greenest Companies and #7 in Corporate Responsibility’s annual ranking of Russell 1000 companies. Ecolab has been named to Ethisphere’s list of the World's Most Ethical Companies for eight consecutive years, and Forbes’ ranking of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for four consecutive years. Ecolab also was named to Chief Executive’s list of the Best Companies for Leaders, CDP Performance and Disclosure Leadership Indices (2013) and The Civic 50 (2013). Baker joined Ecolab in 1989, following seven years in brand management at Procter & Gamble. At Ecolab, he has held roles in marketing, sales and general management in both the U.S. and Europe, and leadership positions including vice president and general manager of Kay, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ecolab; senior vice president, Institutional Sector; and president and chief operating officer. In July 2004, Baker was named president and chief executive officer and in May 2006, added chairman of the board to his duties. In 2011, Baker led Ecolab’s merger with Nalco, an $8 billion transaction which nearly doubled the size of the company. In 2013, he strengthened Ecolab’s energy services business through the $2.3 billion acquisition of Champion Technologies. In addition to his Ecolab responsibilities, Baker serves on the board of directors of Target Corporation and U.S. Bancorp. He also is trustee emeritus of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation and is a member of the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP). Baker has received numerous awards and recognition throughout his career. Most recently, he was named 2014 Responsible CEO of the Year by Corporate Responsibility Magazine. Baker is active in the civic life of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn. He serves on the executive committee of the Greater MSP Partnership, a private-public partnership whose mission is to stimulate economic growth and prosperity in the region. Baker also serves on the board of overseers of the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota and on the executive committee of the Minnesota Business Partnership, an organization comprised of CEOs from Minnesota’s top 100 companies focused on further enhancing the region’s quality of life. He is a board member of Parent Aware for School Readiness (PASR), a nonprofit organization to support the statewide expansion of Parent Aware, Minnesota’s Quality Rating and Improvement System. Baker received a bachelor’s degree in English from College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., and serves on the college’s board of trustees.

• published: 13 Oct 2014
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