Anderson to Retire as CEO of Carbide in November

Union Carbide announced Wednesday that its chairman and chief executive, Warren M. Anderson, will retire in November when he reaches 65.

The company said Robert D. Kennedy, currently president of the chemicals and plastics division, will be elected president and chief executive at Carbide’s board meeting April 23. Anderson has recommended Kennedy to succeed him as chairman, the company said.

Anderson was thrown into the global spotlight in December, 1984, when a chemical leak at a Carbide plant in Bhopal, India, killed more than 2,000 people and injured 200,000 more. A tentative $350-million settlement with the victims was reached last week.

Anderson also led a successful takeover defense against a $5-billion bid from GAF Corp., the chemicals and building materials giant.

But, in the fight, Carbide doubled its debt to $4.5 billion and had to sell many of its divisions, including the important consumer products division.

In a prepared statement, Anderson said: “I feel good about the new Union Carbide merging from a restructuring that was started last year.” He said he was pleased with the experience of those named to lead the company.

Carbide, based in Danbury, Conn., also named Chief Financial Officer J. Clayton Stephenson to the extra post of chief administrative officer and said he will become vice chairman in November.