Robert D. Kennedy (November 8, 1932 – April 3, 2021) was an American businessman who served as president, CEO, and chairman of Union Carbide.

[2] After graduating from Cornell, Kennedy joined Union Carbide as a trainee at the division's Edgewater Research Laboratory in Cleveland, Ohio.

[3] In 1977 Kennedy became president of the Linde division of the company and built a $29 million industrial gases complex in Niagara Falls, New York.

[2] In July 1985, Kennedy and Heinn F. Tomfohrde III, both executive vice presidents, were appointed as co-presidents of Union Carbide, sharing the responsibilities of Alec Flamm, the former president and chief operating officer who became vice chairman.

[6] In March 1986, he became chief executive officer and,[7] in December 1986, chairman, succeeding Warren M. Anderson in both roles.