Jerry York (businessman)
Encyclopedia
Jerome Bailey York commonly known as Jerry York, was an American
businessman, and the Chairman, President
and CEO
of Harwinton Capital. He was the former CFO
of IBM
and Chrysler
, and was CEO of Micro Warehouse. He was a chief aide to Kirk Kerkorian
and his Tracinda
investment company. In February 2006, Kerkorian helped elect York to the board of directors of General Motors
, from which he had previously resigned.
in 1938 and lived in Oakland Township, Michigan. He earned degrees from the United States Military Academy
at West Point, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
, and the University of Michigan
, and was trained as an engineer. A gymnastics injury prevented York from serving in the military.
York eventually became the CFO at Chrysler. When Lee Iacocca
retired as Chrysler CEO in 1992, York was a leading candidate to succeed him. After being passed over as Chrysler CEO, York became CFO of IBM Corporation. He later served as a special adviser to investor Kirk Kerkorian
during Kerkorian's 2007 failed takeover bid for Chrysler and his other investments in Ford Motor Company and General Motors where he previously served as a board member from February to October 2006 before resigning over frustration resulting from GM's failure to distribute materials to the Board in advance of its meetings and a reluctance to implement change recommendations, including the shedding of peripheral brands, which GM ultimately affected during bankruptcy in the form of terminating the Pontiac, Saturn, and Hummer
brands (after a failed sale attempt to Chinese Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery) and the sale of its SAAB division to Spyker Cars
.
From 1999 to 2003, York was Chairman and CEO of Micro Warehouse, which went bankrupt. He was also on the board of Apple Inc. after Steve Jobs
' comeback in 1997.
York was also an enthusiast of alternative energy, particularly wind energy. He was the CFO and a Member of the Board at USWind, a wind energy company of which he was a co-founder and active management team member.
York was also part of a team developing the next generation portable computer.
York was hospitalized on March 17, 2010 after collapsing in his suburban Detroit home from a brain aneurysm. He died the next day.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman, and the Chairman, President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
and CEO
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...
of Harwinton Capital. He was the former CFO
Chief financial officer
The chief financial officer or Chief financial and operating officer is a corporate officer primarily responsible for managing the financial risks of the corporation. This officer is also responsible for financial planning and record-keeping, as well as financial reporting to higher management...
of IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
and Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
, and was CEO of Micro Warehouse. He was a chief aide to Kirk Kerkorian
Kirk Kerkorian
Kerkor "Kirk" Kerkorian is an American businessman who is the president/CEO of Tracinda Corporation, his private holding company based in Beverly Hills, California. Kerkorian is known as one of the important figures in shaping Las Vegas and, with architect Martin Stern, Jr...
and his Tracinda
Tracinda
Tracinda Corporation is a private investment corporation owned by Kirk Kerkorian. Major investments include a minority interest of MGM Resorts International . Tracinda is headquartered on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills...
investment company. In February 2006, Kerkorian helped elect York to the board of directors of General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
, from which he had previously resigned.
Biography
York was born in Memphis, TennesseeMemphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
in 1938 and lived in Oakland Township, Michigan. He earned degrees from the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, and the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, and was trained as an engineer. A gymnastics injury prevented York from serving in the military.
York eventually became the CFO at Chrysler. When Lee Iacocca
Lee Iacocca
Lido Anthony "Lee" Iacocca is an American businessman known for engineering the Mustang, the unsuccessful Ford Pinto, being fired from Ford Motor Company, and his revival of the Chrysler Corporation in the 1980s...
retired as Chrysler CEO in 1992, York was a leading candidate to succeed him. After being passed over as Chrysler CEO, York became CFO of IBM Corporation. He later served as a special adviser to investor Kirk Kerkorian
Kirk Kerkorian
Kerkor "Kirk" Kerkorian is an American businessman who is the president/CEO of Tracinda Corporation, his private holding company based in Beverly Hills, California. Kerkorian is known as one of the important figures in shaping Las Vegas and, with architect Martin Stern, Jr...
during Kerkorian's 2007 failed takeover bid for Chrysler and his other investments in Ford Motor Company and General Motors where he previously served as a board member from February to October 2006 before resigning over frustration resulting from GM's failure to distribute materials to the Board in advance of its meetings and a reluctance to implement change recommendations, including the shedding of peripheral brands, which GM ultimately affected during bankruptcy in the form of terminating the Pontiac, Saturn, and Hummer
Hummer
Hummer was a brand of trucks and SUVs, first marketed in 1992 when AM General began selling a civilian version of the M998 Humvee. In 1998, General Motors purchased the brand name and marketed three vehicles: the original Hummer H1, based on the Humvee; and the H2 and H3 models that were...
brands (after a failed sale attempt to Chinese Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery) and the sale of its SAAB division to Spyker Cars
Spyker Cars
Spyker Cars is a Dutch sports car marque. The modern Spyker Cars only has the legal right to the brand name. The company's motto is "Nulla tenaci invia est via", which is Latin for "For the tenacious, no road is impassable". The marque's logo displays the piston engine of an airplane, a reference...
.
From 1999 to 2003, York was Chairman and CEO of Micro Warehouse, which went bankrupt. He was also on the board of Apple Inc. after Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs
Steven Paul Jobs was an American businessman and inventor widely recognized as a charismatic pioneer of the personal computer revolution. He was co-founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Apple Inc...
' comeback in 1997.
York was also an enthusiast of alternative energy, particularly wind energy. He was the CFO and a Member of the Board at USWind, a wind energy company of which he was a co-founder and active management team member.
York was also part of a team developing the next generation portable computer.
York was hospitalized on March 17, 2010 after collapsing in his suburban Detroit home from a brain aneurysm. He died the next day.