Liveris tapped to help Australia prepare for 2032 Olympics

Former Dow Inc. CEO Andrew Liveris will help the world go for the gold at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Liveris recently was named president of the Organizing Committee Board for that landmark event. Liveris is an Australian native and a graduate of the University of Queensland.

His career at Dow, a materials giant based in Midland, Mich., covered 46 years, including the last 14 (2004-18) as chairman, president and CEO. He now serves on several corporate boards, including Aramco, IBM and Lucid Motors.

In a news release, Liveris said that he expects his new role "will be one of the greatest and most satisfying opportunities to contribute to Australia."

"I have worked around the world and I have always attributed my success to my study at the University of Queensland, so Brisbane holds a special place in my heart," he added. "I am honored to have been asked to make an important contribution to our state and nation in this critical role."

Dow had been an Olympic partner and sponsor of the International Olympic Committee in 2010. The firm became the IOC's sustainability partner to create a "green Olympics" at the 2012 London Games, where recycling technologies for building materials and water management were introduced to minimize the impact of the Games on the environment.

In the release, John Coates, Australian Olympic Committee president and IOC vice president, said that Liveris "is well-known to the IOC as the chair of a former worldwide sponsor of the Olympic Games and the IOC is well-known to him."

"He adds tremendous value and international credibility," Coates added.

The Brisbane Games are set to open July 23, 2032. They'll be the third Summer Olympics to be hosted by Australia, following Melbourne in 1956 and Sydney in 2000.