University names Goodyear Executive Professor

Emily Inverso

Kent State University has named its Goodyear Executive Professor. Leo Plante, a former investment banker for Goldman Sachs and Citibank, is taking his position in the College of Business Administration.

The Goodyear Executive Professor position is an ongoing opportunity for the university to stay connected with business communities, and was established by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in 1973.

Plante will teach Financial Management for Master of Business Administration students this fall. He previously taught finance and economics at various universities and is self-employed as an investment manager and venture capitalist.

“Given the recent financial turmoil, it’s a great time to have an executive from the financial services sector here at Kent State to work with our students,” said Rick Schroath, associate dean of the College of Business Administration at Kent State, in a press release.