John_G._Smale

John G. Smale

John G. Smale

American businessman (1927-2011)

John Gray Smale (August 1, 1927 - November 19, 2011) was an American businessman, the chief executive (CEO) of Procter & Gamble from 1981 to 1990, and chairman of General Motors from 1992 to 1995.[1]

Quick Facts Born, Died ...

According to his obituary in The New York Times, he "led Procter & Gamble through a period of extraordinary growth, and then helped engineer a turnaround of General Motors"[1]

Early life

John Gray Smale and his twin sister Joy were born on August 1, 1927, in Listowel, Ontario, Canada, and grew up in Elmhurst, Illinois.[1] Their father worked for the department store chain Marshall Field's as a travelling salesman.[1] He earned a bachelor's degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, in 1949.[1]

Career

In 1949, he joined Vick Chemical Co and worked for them for three years as a salesman (and would eventually lead the acquisition of their successor company, Richardson-Vicks, for $1.2 billion in 1985.[1][2]

In 1952, he joined Procter & Gamble in dental products and persuaded the American Dental Association to endorse a new product, Crest toothpaste, which went on to become one of P&G's best-selling brands.[3] He rose to become its seventh CEO, a role he held from 1981 to 1990.[3][1]

Personal life

Smale was married to Phyllis Weaver for 56 years until her death in 2006, and they had four children, John Gray Jr, Peter, Catherine Anne Caldemeyer, and Lisa Smale.[1]

He died at his home in Cincinnati, Ohio, on November 19, 2011, aged 84.[1]

References

  1. [1]
    "John G. Smale, Procter & Gamble Chief, Dies at 84". The New York Times. 21 November 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  2. [2]
    "John Smale, Former CEO of P&G and Chairman of GM, Dies at 84". adage.com. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  3. [3]
    "Former Procter & Gamble CEO John Smale dies at 84". 20 November 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2018 – via Reuters.
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