William R. Johnson
{{other people}}
{{Infobox person
| name = William R. Johnson
| post-nominals =
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Palo Alto, California
| known_for = CEO and chairman, H. J. Heinz
| education = University of California, Los Angeles
McCombs School of Business
| occupation =
| years_active =
| title =
| boards = {{plainlist|
| spouse = Susie Johnson
| children = 2
| father = Bill "Tiger" Johnson
| mother =
| website =
| awards =
| signature =
| signature_alt =
}}
William R. Johnson is an American businessman and is the former president, CEO and chairman of H. J. Heinz.{{cite web |url=http://www.heinz.com/our-company/corporate-governance/board-of-directors/william-r-johnson.aspx |title=Heinz - William R. Johnson |access-date=2011-04-26}}
Early life and education
Johnson was born and grew up in Palo Alto. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.{{cite web |title=Board of Directors - Neighborhood Health Clinic, Inc. |url=https://neighborhoodhealthclinic.org/about-us/board-of-directors/ |website=Neighborhood Health Clinic |access-date=19 November 2023}} Later, he moved to Austin, Texas to attend the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas, from which he received a master's degree in Business Administration in 1974.{{cite news |last1=Leahy |first1=Cory |title=McCombs Hall of Fame Inducts Four Prominent Leaders |url=https://news.utexas.edu/2007/10/29/mccombs-hall-of-fame-inducts-four-prominent-leaders/ |access-date=19 November 2023 |work=UT News |date=29 October 2007}}
Career
In his early career, Johnson held management positions at Drackett, Ralston Purina, and Anderson-Clayton Foods before joining Heinz in 1982 as general manager of new business.{{cite news |last=Baker |first=Stephen |title=The Odd Couple At Heinz |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/1996-11-03/the-odd-couple-at-heinz |access-date=19 November 2023 |work=Bloomberg.com |publisher=Bloomberg |date=4 November 1996 |language=en}}
In 1988, as president and CEO, Johnson turned around the poorly performing Heinz Pet Products. In 1992, he did the same thing at the highly visible Starkist Foods.{{cite news |last=Stanford |first=Duane |title=Heinz CEO Johnson Would Get $200 Million in Post-Berkshire Exit |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-03-05/heinz-ceo-johnson-would-get-200-million-in-post-berkshire-exit |access-date=19 November 2023 |work=Bloomberg.com |publisher=Bloomberg |date=5 March 2013 |language=en}} In 1993 he was named senior vice president and director, in 1996 president and COO, and in 1998, named president and CEO. In 2000, he was named chairman of the board of directors.{{cite news |last=Spencer |first=Malia |title=Heinz's Johnson not finished yet |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/print-edition/2013/02/22/heinzs-johnson-not-finished-yet.html |access-date=19 November 2023 |work=www.bizjournals.com |publisher=Pittsburgh Business Times |date=22 February 2013}}
In March 2015, Johnson joined the board of PepsiCo.{{cite news |last=Gough |first=Peter |title=Former Heinz CEO named to board of PepsiCo |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/blog/morning-edition/2015/01/former-heinz-ceo-named-to-board-of-pepsico.html |access-date=19 November 2023 |work=www.bizjournals.com |publisher=Pittsburgh Business Times |date=19 January 2015}} On February 11, 2009, the board of directors of UPS elected William R. Johnson as an independent director of the company.{{cite news |title=Heinz chairman named to UPS board |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2009/02/09/daily78.html |access-date=19 November 2023 |work=www.bizjournals.com |publisher=Atlanta Business Chronicle |date=11 February 2009}}
Personal life
Johnson married Susie in 1974 and they have two children.{{cite news |last=Buckman |first=John |title=Heinz CEO: Bill Johnson |url=https://pittsburghquarterly.com/articles/heinz-ceo-bill-johnson/ |access-date=19 November 2023 |work=Pittsburgh Quarterly |publisher=Pittsburgh Quarterly |date=20 August 2007}}
He credits his father, Bill "Tiger" Johnson, with instilling him with a fiercely competitive spirit and a passionate desire to win. Johnson also learned motivation from his father and other coaches. In the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, he told reporter Patricia Sabatini that, "Some people need to be handled gently. Other people you can kick in the rear end" (May 18, 1998).{{cite news |last1=Dudley |first1=Renee |last2=Hymowitz |first2=Carol |last3=Patton |first3=Leslie |title=Heinz CEO Johnson May Reap $100 Million From Buyout |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-02-14/heinz-ceo-johnson-may-reap-100-million-from-buyout |access-date=20 November 2023 |work=Bloomberg.com |date=15 February 2013 |language=en}}
References
- [http://www.heinz.com/our-company/corporate-governance/board-of-directors/william-r-johnson.aspx William R. Johnson: Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, H. J. Heinz Company]
- [http://www.heinz.com/our-company/corporate-governance/board-of-directors.aspx H. J. Heinz Company Board]
{{Reflist}}
{{Heinz}}
{{UPS}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, William R.}}
Category:American chief executives of food industry companies
Category:University of California, Los Angeles alumni