Benjamin M. Rosen | |
---|---|
Born |
New Orleans, Louisiana |
March 11, 1933
Alma mater |
California Institute of Technology (B.S.) Stanford University (M.S.) Columbia University (M.B.A.) |
Known for | Chairman of Compaq |
Benjamin "Ben" M. Rosen (born March 11, 1933) is the former Chairman and former Acting Chief Executive Officer of Compaq and co-founder of Sevin Rosen Funds.
Rosen was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on March 11, 1933 to Isadore and Anna Rosen. Rosen's father was a dentist and his mother was a secretary. He received a B.S. from the California Institute of Technology in 1954, and M.S. from Stanford University in 1955, and an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School in 1961. He worked on Wall Street for 15 years, ending his career as a Senior Technology Analyst and Vice President at Morgan Stanley.
Rosen co-founded the venture capital company Sevin Rosen Funds in 1981 with L.J. Sevin. In this capacity, Rosen invested in Compaq Computer Corporation in 1981, eventually serving as Chairman for 18 years. For four months in 1999, Rosen also served as Acting CEO. As a financier, Rosen backed high tech startup companies including Electronic Arts, Lotus Development and Silicon Graphics.
Together with his wife Donna Perret Rosen, Rosen has created the new ideas festival, KentPresents Heading into its third year, KentPresents 2017 will be held July 27–29, at the Kent School in Kent, Connecticut. In the past, speakers have included multiple Nobel Laureates, winners of Pulitzer Prizes, MacArthurs, Tonys, Emmys, Peabodys and National Book Awards; and a host of members of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine. The topics will include art, economics, energy, environment, food, global risks, health care, homeland security, intelligence, literature, migration, national affairs, performing arts, politics, the racial divide, the Supreme Court, science, technology, women’s issues… and more.
In 1999, Rosen was awarded the Founders Medal of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. in 2007, he was named a recipient of the Caltech Distinguished Alumni Award. He is a member of the honorary societies of Tau Beta Pi (engineering), Sigma Xi (research), and Beta Gamma Sigma (business).