Jonathan E. Johnson
{{Infobox person
| name =
| caption = Jonathan Johnson
| image = Jonathan_Johnson_Photos_Shoot-063-18.jpg
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation =
| party = Republican
| boards = overstock.com
| spouse = {{marriage|Courtney Johnson
|1988}}
| children = 5
| alma_mater = Brigham Young University,
Utah
}}
Jonathan Edwin "J.J." Johnson III is an American business executive who was the CEO of Overstock.com from 2019 to 2023.{{Cite web |title=Jonathan E. Johnson III |url=https://famousmormons.net/mormon-professionals/famous-mormons-in-business/jonathan-e-johnson-iii/ |access-date=2023-08-07 |website=Famous Mormons}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-08-22/overstock-ceo-resigns-after-deep-state-controversy|title=Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne resigns after 'deep state' controversy|date=2019-08-22|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-23}}{{Cite web|url=https://investors.overstock.com/news-releases/news-release-details/overstock-appoints-jonathan-johnson-ceo-and-robert-hughes-acting|title=Overstock Appoints Jonathan Johnson as CEO and Robert Hughes as Acting CFO|website=Overstock.com Inc.|language=en|access-date=2019-12-18}}{{Cite web |last=Tyko |first=Kelly |date=2023-11-06 |title=Bed Bath & Beyond CEO steps down after Overstock transition |url=https://www.axios.com/2023/11/07/bed-bath-beyond-ceo-jonathan-johnson-steps-down |website=Axios}} He was a candidate for the Republican nomination in the 2016 Utah gubernatorial election."Jonathan Johnson: Idea Guy is Considering 2016 Run for Governor", by LaVarr Webb, UtahPolicy.com, June 20, 2011.
Personal life and education
Johnson was born in Los Angeles, California to Jonathan E. Johnson II and Clare Hardy Johnson, the oldest of their eight sons. He received a bachelor's degree in Japanese from Brigham Young University (BYU) in 1990, followed by a juris doctor degree from BYU's J. Reuben Clark Law School, in 1993."Happening Upon Success", by Jamie Cline, LDSLiving, February 19, 2011.
Career
Following his graduation, Johnson worked as a clerk for Utah Supreme Court Justice Leonard H. Russon.What is the history of Jonathan E Johnson and the latest information about Jonathan E Johnson? (n.d.). Retrieved September 10, 2015, from {{cite web|url=http://finance.newsitem.com/what-is-the-history-of-jonathan-e-johnson-and-the-latest-information-about-jonathan-e-johnson/ostk/executive/jonathan-e-johnson/jonathan-e-johnson.htm |title=What is the history of Jonathan e Johnson and the latest information about Jonathan e Johnson? |accessdate=2015-09-18 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925134205/http://finance.newsitem.com/what-is-the-history-of-jonathan-e-johnson-and-the-latest-information-about-jonathan-e-johnson/ostk/executive/jonathan-e-johnson/jonathan-e-johnson.htm |archivedate=2015-09-25 }}
In 1999, Johnson moved back to Utah to work for the publicly traded software company TenFold Corporation, lasting there until 2002 when he was hired by Overstock.com to be general counsel.Jonathan E. Johnson III. (2015). Retrieved September 10, 2015, from http://www.fastcompany.com/user/jonathan-e-johnson-iii {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921080736/http://www.fastcompany.com/user/jonathan-e-johnson-iii |date=2015-09-21 }} He was the chairman of the board at Overstock until 2019."Jonathan E. Johnson III", The Wall Street Transcript, March 23, 2009.Overstock.com to Acquire SpeedRoute Technologies and Related Businesses. (2014, January 29). Retrieved September 10, 2015.Neely, K. (2015, June 3). Overstock exec shares principles of successful businesses with AF Chamber. Retrieved September 10, 2015. Upon the departure of Patrick Byrne on August 22, 2019, Johnson became the interim CEO of the company.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/22/business/overstock-ceo-patrick-byrne.html|title=Patrick Byrne, Overstock C.E.O., Resigns After Disclosing Romance With Russian Agent|last1=Metz|first1=Cade|date=2019-08-22|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-08-23|last2=Creswell|first2=Julie|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} One month later on September 23, 2019, Johnson was appointed permanent CEO. He resigned in November 2023, following accusations of poor performance in a letter from a major shareholder.{{Cite web |last=Sollitt |first=Shannon |date=2023-11-10 |title=Bed Bath & Beyond CEO out after claims of poor leadership |url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/business/2023/11/10/bed-bath-beyond-ceo-out-after/ |access-date= |website=The Salt Lake Tribune |language=en-US}}
2016 campaign for governor of Utah
Johnson, a Republican, formally announced his candidacy for governor on August 15, 2015 at the state GOP conventionRoche, L. (2015, August 15). Gov. Herbert gets a challenger as GOP looks to 2016. Deseret News. Retrieved from [https://web.archive.org/web/20150816130514/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865634658/Overstockcom-Chairman-Jonathan-Johnson-will-take-on-Herbert-for-governor.html?pg=all] Johnson defeated the incumbent governor, Gary Herbert, at the convention, triggering a primary election, which was held June 28, 2016.{{cite web | url=http://fox13now.com/2016/04/23/gov-gary-herbert-forced-into-primary-election-with-jonathan-johnson/ | title=Gov. Gary Herbert forced into primary election with Jonathan Johnson| date=23 April 2016}}
On April 18, 2016, Johnson announced his selection of Robyn Bagley as his running mate.[https://www.deseret.com/2016/4/18/20586882/three-utah-gubernatorial-candidates-announce-running-mates/ "Three Utah gubernatorial candidates announce running mates," Deseret News, April 18. 2016] Bagley is the founder of a charter school, and was a leader on the losing side in the voucher battle in 2007.[http://kutv.com/news/local/education-fight-over-education-savings-accounts-brewing "Fight over 'Education Savings Accounts' brewing," Rod Decker, KUTV News, May 8, 2016] Herbert defeated Johnson in the primary, and went on to win reelection in the general election.[http://fox13now.com/2016/06/28/herbert-leads-governor-race-misty-snow-ahead-of-challenger-for-sen-lees-seat/ "ELECTION RESULTS: Herbert wins GOP primary," Fox 13 News, June 29, 2016]
=Education=
Johnson and Bagley focused on education during their announcement to run together for governor and lieutenant governor, and expressed their intention to put education decisions into the hands of private companies. Both running mates voiced support for vouchers that would allow public funding to go to private schools.{{cite web | url=https://www.deseret.com/2016/4/18/20586882/three-utah-gubernatorial-candidates-announce-running-mates/ | title=Deseret News: Johnson/Bagley promise to put parents in charge of their children's education| website=Deseret News| date=19 April 2016}}
References
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Category:American chairpersons of corporations