Frederic G. Donner

{{Infobox person

|name = Frederic G. Donnner

|image = Portrait of Frederic G. Donner.jpg

|caption = Portrait of Frederic G. Donner, 1962.

|birth_name = Frederic Garrett Donner

|birth_date = {{birth date|1902|10|04}}

|birth_place = Three Oaks, Michigan, U.S.

|death_date = {{death date and age|1987|02|28|1902|10|04}}

|death_place = Greenwich, Connecticut

|other_names =

|party =

|education = University of Michigan

}}

Frederic Garrett Donner (October 4, 1902 – February 28, 1987) was an American chairman and CEO of the General Motors Corporation from September 1, 1958, to October 31, 1967.[http://www.gm.com/corporate/about/history/leadership/leadership.jsp?deep=chairmen GM History page] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301124938/http://www.gm.com/corporate/about/history/leadership/leadership.jsp?deep=chairmen |date=2009-03-01 }}. Accessed May 19, 2009.

Frederic G. Donner was born in Three Oaks Michigan, the son of an accountant, on October 4, 1902.[https://www.nytimes.com/1987/03/01/obituaries/frederic-g-donner-84-former-chairman-of-gm.html FREDERIC G. DONNER, 84, FORMER CHAIRMAN OF G.M].New York Times, 1 March 1987 He graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in economics and worked briefly for a Chicago accounting firm.

Career at GM

He joined General Motors's New York staff as an accountant in 1926, and worked there for 32 years.[http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/f/findaid/findaid-idx?c=bhlead;idno=umich-bhl-88369;view=reslist;didno=umich-bhl-88369;subview=standard;focusrgn=bioghist;cc=bhlead;byte=35055575 Biography]. Frederic G. Donner Papers 1921-1983 [http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/f/findaid/findaid-idx?c=bhlead;idno=umich-bhl-88369;view=reslist;didno=umich-bhl-88369;subview=standard;focusrgn=frontmatter;cc=bhlead;byte=35053263 Finding Aid]. Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. Accessed May 19, 2009.

He became assistant treasurer in 1934 and in 1941, at 38, he became one of the youngest GM executives ever to reach a vice-presidency. In 1956 he was named executive vice president for finance. He served as an officer of General Motors from 1941 until 1958, when he became chairman and chief executive officer. Donner presided over a major reorganization of GM's board of directors to include more representation from outside the corporation. During his tenure GM achieved record sales and profits.

Later career at GM

He was at the helm when GM expanded its product line with 12 new passenger cars, including the Nova, Chevelle, Firebird, Century, Riviera, Camaro, Pontiac LeMans, Cutlass, and Eldorado.

Donner was the author of The worldwide industrial enterprise; its challenge and promise.Donner, F. The world-wide industrial enterprise; its challenge and promise. New York: McGraw Hill, 1967.

Donner was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 1994.[http://www.automotivehalloffame.org/honors/index.php?cmd=view&id=46&type=inductees Automotive Hall of Fame] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612193730/http://www.automotivehalloffame.org/honors/index.php?cmd=view&id=46&type=inductees |date=2011-06-12 }} page. Accessed May 19, 2009.

References

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{{succession box | before=Albert Bradley | title=Chairman of General Motors | after=James Roche | years=1958 – 1967}}

{{succession box | before=Harlow Curtice | title=CEO of General Motors | after=James Roche | years=1958 – 1967}}

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Category:1902 births

Category:1987 deaths

Category:American manufacturing businesspeople

Category:Businesspeople from Michigan

Category:University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts alumni

Category:20th-century American businesspeople

Category:American chief executives in the automobile industry

Category:General Motors executives

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