Donald W. Davis
Encyclopedia
Donald Walter Davis Jr. was an American businessman who oversaw the growth of Stanley Works (now Stanley Black & Decker) in his 40-year career with the company, serving as chief executive officer
from 1966-1988. During his tenure, he supervised the company's transformation from focusing on the traditional commercial uses of the firm's products to target the nascent do it yourself
home improvement
market.
. His father, Donald W. Davis Sr., left a 17-year career as an advertising manager and director to become a teacher of advertising at Penn State's
College of Communications, which he helped found.
The younger Davis attended Penn State and earned a degree in journalism
before enlisting in the United States Navy
during World War II. After completing his military service, Davis attended Harvard Business School
using his benefits under the G.I. Bill.
During his tenure as CEO, employment at Stanley doubled to 20,000, while sales went from $230 million in 1966 to $1.9 billion in 1989, the year after he retired as CEO.
during the 1960s, where the do-it-yourself market was already in existence, Davis sought to bring that trend to the United States, arguing that homeowners doing construction projects on their own would want to use the same quality tools that professionals were using. He coined the company slogan "Stanley helps you do things right".
Facing increasing competition from Asian manufacturers who could produce quality tools and sell them for 40% less than Stanley was charging, Davis responded with cuts in labor costs through attrition and layoffs to allow prices to drop to competitive levels. Though increasing numbers of the company's employees were employed around the world, Davis sought to keep the firm rooted in New England
by establishing a new corporate headquarters in New Britain, Connecticut
, saying, "I think of us as an international company headquartered here", avoiding the word "global" as "it gives the impression of rootlessness".
Davis had been active on the New Britain board of education and his six children had attended the local public schools. As recounted by Louis Uchitelle
in his 2006 book The Disposable American: Layoffs and their Consequences, after relocating to a summer house on Martha's Vineyard
, Davis would frequently make the trip to New Britain by ferry and car but started cutting back his visits by the late 1990s as coming face-to-face with former Stanley employees became too painful and "much too personal".
After retiring from Stanley in 1988, Davis taught for over 20 years at the MIT Sloan School of Management
, lecturing on the subjects of leadership and ethics. He moved from New Britain to homes in Martha's Vineyard and Hobe Sound, Florida
.
Davis died at age 89 on September 11, 2010. The cause of death was lymphoma
, a condition he had been treated for successfully 30 years earlier. Davis was survived by his wife, Virginia Cooper Davis, three daughters, three sons, and 12 grandchildren.
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
from 1966-1988. During his tenure, he supervised the company's transformation from focusing on the traditional commercial uses of the firm's products to target the nascent do it yourself
Do it yourself
Do it yourself is a term used to describe building, modifying, or repairing of something without the aid of experts or professionals...
home improvement
Home improvement
Home improvement, home renovation or remodeling is the process of renovating or making additions to one's home.-Types of home improvement:...
market.
Early life
Davis was born on June 10, 1921, in Springfield, MassachusettsSpringfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
. His father, Donald W. Davis Sr., left a 17-year career as an advertising manager and director to become a teacher of advertising at Penn State's
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
College of Communications, which he helped found.
The younger Davis attended Penn State and earned a degree in journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
before enlisting in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II. After completing his military service, Davis attended Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
using his benefits under the G.I. Bill.
Stanley Works career
Davis was hired by Stanley Works in 1948 as its general manager of labor relations, beginning a career with that company that would last for almost four decades. After 18 years with the company and having been the firm's executive vice president, Davis was named as president and CEO of Stanley Works in April 1966, succeeding John C. Cairns who had been with Stanley for 42 years.During his tenure as CEO, employment at Stanley doubled to 20,000, while sales went from $230 million in 1966 to $1.9 billion in 1989, the year after he retired as CEO.
DIY trend
Having been to EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
during the 1960s, where the do-it-yourself market was already in existence, Davis sought to bring that trend to the United States, arguing that homeowners doing construction projects on their own would want to use the same quality tools that professionals were using. He coined the company slogan "Stanley helps you do things right".
Facing increasing competition from Asian manufacturers who could produce quality tools and sell them for 40% less than Stanley was charging, Davis responded with cuts in labor costs through attrition and layoffs to allow prices to drop to competitive levels. Though increasing numbers of the company's employees were employed around the world, Davis sought to keep the firm rooted in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
by establishing a new corporate headquarters in New Britain, Connecticut
New Britain, Connecticut
New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located approximately 9 miles southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 71,254....
, saying, "I think of us as an international company headquartered here", avoiding the word "global" as "it gives the impression of rootlessness".
Davis had been active on the New Britain board of education and his six children had attended the local public schools. As recounted by Louis Uchitelle
Louis Uchitelle
Louis Uchitelle is a journalist and author. He has worked for the New York Times since 1980, where he writes about business and economics...
in his 2006 book The Disposable American: Layoffs and their Consequences, after relocating to a summer house on Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard is an island located south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, known for being an affluent summer colony....
, Davis would frequently make the trip to New Britain by ferry and car but started cutting back his visits by the late 1990s as coming face-to-face with former Stanley employees became too painful and "much too personal".
After retiring from Stanley in 1988, Davis taught for over 20 years at the MIT Sloan School of Management
MIT Sloan School of Management
The MIT Sloan School of Management is the business school of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in Cambridge, Massachusetts....
, lecturing on the subjects of leadership and ethics. He moved from New Britain to homes in Martha's Vineyard and Hobe Sound, Florida
Hobe Sound, Florida
Hobe Sound is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Martin County, Florida, United States. The population was 11,376 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Port St. Lucie Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography and climate:...
.
Davis died at age 89 on September 11, 2010. The cause of death was lymphoma
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer in the lymphatic cells of the immune system. Typically, lymphomas present as a solid tumor of lymphoid cells. Treatment might involve chemotherapy and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable depending on the histology, type, and stage...
, a condition he had been treated for successfully 30 years earlier. Davis was survived by his wife, Virginia Cooper Davis, three daughters, three sons, and 12 grandchildren.