History - 2005 Speaker
Ursula M. BurnsSenior Vice President and President
Business Group Operations, Xerox Corporation
Ursula M. Burns is president of Business Group Operations at Xerox Corporation, Stamford, Conn. She was named to this position in December 2002. She is also a corporate senior vice president, appointed April 2000.
The Business Group Operations is a $12 billion organization, consisting of five business groups; Production, Office, Supplies, Worldwide Manufacturing and Supply Chain Services and Xerox's Engineering Center.Burns joined Xerox in 1980 as a mechanical engineering summer intern. She subsequently held several positions in engineering, including product development and planning. In June 1991 she became the executive assistant to Paul A. Allaire, then Xerox chairman and chief executive officer.From 1992 through 2000, Burns led several business teams, including the office color and fax business, office network copying business and the departmental business unit. In May 2000, she was named senior vice president, Corporate Strategic Services, and most recently, president of the Document Systems and Solutions Group.Burns received a bachelor of science degree from Polytechnic Institute of New York in 1980 and a master of science degree in mechanical engineering from Columbia University in 1981. She serves on professional and community boards, including American Express, Boston Scientific Corp., FIRST, National Association of Manufacturers, PQ Corporation, University of Rochester and The Rochester Business Alliance. In July 2002, Burns was ranked No. 28 on Fortune's list of the 50 Most Powerful Black Executives in America.
