Michael H. Jordan
Encyclopedia
Michael H. Jordan was an American
businessman. He has served as the Chief Executive Officer
of PepsiCo
Worldwide Foods (1986–1990), Westinghouse Electric Corporation (1993–1998), CBS Corporation
(1995–1998), and Electronic Data Systems
(2003–2007).
Jordan was born in Kansas City, Missouri
, to the late Mary Virginia Witt and Hugh Franklin Jordan. He was raised in a lower-middle-class area in the wake of the Great Depression.
He wed Kathryn Beacham in Toledo, Ohio
, on April 8, 1961. Married for 38 years, Kim gave birth to two children, Kathryn and Stephen. The marriage ended in divorce.
He met and later married Hilary Cecil, an executive recruiter, on March 4, 2000 in New York City
. Jordan was the stepfather to Hilary's two children, Francesca Cecil and Alexander Cecil; he was also grandfather to six grandchildren.
in 1957 with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering
, then earned a M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University
in 1959.
as a lieutenant and was selected by Admiral Hyman G. Rickover
to serve on his staff, which was developing America’s nuclear submarine
force. He left active duty
in 1964.
. Michael joined PepsiCo
in 1974, where he held various senior executive positions. Among the positions he held at the company were president of the International Foods and Beverages Division, and CFO. He retired in July 1992 as Chairman and CEO of its PepsiCo
International Foods and Beverages Division.
Jordan’s retirement was short-lived. In 1992-1993, he became a principal of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R), one of the oldest private investment firms. In 1993, he was recruited as the first outside Chairman and CEO of Westinghouse Electric Corporation headquartered in Pittsburgh. He led the company through one of the most comprehensive transformations of a major U.S. corporation, including its purchase of CBS Corporation, as the company was renamed. He retired from CBS
in December 1998, became a private investor and authored a mystery novel.
In 2003, the board of Electronic Data Systems
asked Jordan to lead the company. As Chairman and CEO, he led a financial and operational turnaround. In 2007, he stepped down. He remained with the company as Chairman Emeritus until it was purchased by Hewlett Packard in 2008.
Jordan served on several corporate, private and non-profit boards. In 1992, he joined the Dell Computer Corporation’s Board of Directors, where he served until 2003, having played a critical role during an exceptional growth period in Dell’s history. From 1992 to 2007, he served on the Board of Directors at Aetna
. After his retirement from CBS
, Jordan became chairman of two companies, Luminant Worldwide Corporation in Dallas, where he served from 1999 to 2001, and eOriginal Inc., a Baltimore company on whose board he remained. He also served on the boards of several smaller, privately held companies, including BlackLight Power, Inc. located in Cranbury, NJ. He was a former board member of WPP Group
plc.
Two of his favorite non-profit organizations were the Center for Excellence in Education
, founded by the late Admiral Hyman G. Rickover
, and the United Negro College Fund
. He served on the Center’s board beginning in 1986, and as its chairman from 1988-1992. In 1986, he joined the Board of the United Negro College Fund
, and from 1994 to 2004, he served as its Chairman. He was a member of the Yale School of Management
Advisory Board and Chairman of the Yale University
Council Committee on Engineering and Applied Science.
Michael was a member of the President’s Export Council under the Clinton Administration, and chairman of its Subcommittee on Export Administration. He was a member of the Council of Retired Chief Executives, a former chairman of the National Foreign Trade Council
; a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
; a trustee of The Brookings Institution
; a member and former chairman of the U.S.-Japan Business Council; a former member of The Business Council; a member of the board of trustees of the United States Council for International Business
; a member of the International Advisory Board of British-American Business Inc.; and a former member of the Business Roundtable
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman. He has served as the Chief Executive Officer
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 PepsiCo
PepsiCo
PepsiCo Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in Purchase, New York, United States, with interests in the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of grain-based snack foods, beverages, and other products. PepsiCo was formed in 1965 with the merger of the Pepsi-Cola Company...
Worldwide Foods (1986–1990), Westinghouse Electric Corporation (1993–1998), CBS Corporation
CBS Corporation
CBS Corporation is an American media conglomerate focused on commercial broadcasting, publishing, billboards and television production, with most of its operations in the United States. The President and CEO of the company is Leslie Moonves. Sumner Redstone, owner of National Amusements, is CBS's...
(1995–1998), and Electronic Data Systems
Electronic Data Systems
HP Enterprise Services is the global business and technology services division of Hewlett Packard's HP Enterprise Business strategic business unit. It was formed by the combination of HP's legacy services consulting and outsourcing business and the integration of acquired Electronic Data Systems,...
(2003–2007).
Jordan was born in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, to the late Mary Virginia Witt and Hugh Franklin Jordan. He was raised in a lower-middle-class area in the wake of the Great Depression.
He wed Kathryn Beacham in Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
, on April 8, 1961. Married for 38 years, Kim gave birth to two children, Kathryn and Stephen. The marriage ended in divorce.
He met and later married Hilary Cecil, an executive recruiter, on March 4, 2000 in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Jordan was the stepfather to Hilary's two children, Francesca Cecil and Alexander Cecil; he was also grandfather to six grandchildren.
Education
Jordan graduated from Yale UniversityYale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1957 with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering
Chemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
, then earned a M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1959.
Naval career
Jordan was a member of the Reserve Officers Training Corps in college. In 1960, he joined the United States NavyUnited 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...
as a lieutenant and was selected by Admiral Hyman G. Rickover
Hyman G. Rickover
Hyman George Rickover was a four-star admiral of the United States Navy who directed the original development of naval nuclear propulsion and controlled its operations for three decades as director of Naval Reactors...
to serve on his staff, which was developing America’s nuclear submarine
Nuclear submarine
A nuclear submarine is a submarine powered by a nuclear reactor . The performance advantages of nuclear submarines over "conventional" submarines are considerable: nuclear propulsion, being completely independent of air, frees the submarine from the need to surface frequently, as is necessary for...
force. He left active duty
Active duty
Active duty refers to a full-time occupation as part of a military force, as opposed to reserve duty.-Pakistan:The Pakistan Armed Forces are one of the largest active service forces in the world with almost 610,000 full time personnel due to the complex and volatile nature of Pakistan's...
in 1964.
Career
From 1964-1974, Jordan served as consultant and principal at McKinsey & CompanyMcKinsey & Company
McKinsey & Company, Inc. is a global management consulting firm that focuses on solving issues of concern to senior management. McKinsey serves as an adviser to many businesses, governments, and institutions...
. Michael joined PepsiCo
PepsiCo
PepsiCo Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in Purchase, New York, United States, with interests in the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of grain-based snack foods, beverages, and other products. PepsiCo was formed in 1965 with the merger of the Pepsi-Cola Company...
in 1974, where he held various senior executive positions. Among the positions he held at the company were president of the International Foods and Beverages Division, and CFO. He retired in July 1992 as Chairman and CEO of its PepsiCo
PepsiCo
PepsiCo Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in Purchase, New York, United States, with interests in the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of grain-based snack foods, beverages, and other products. PepsiCo was formed in 1965 with the merger of the Pepsi-Cola Company...
International Foods and Beverages Division.
Jordan’s retirement was short-lived. In 1992-1993, he became a principal of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R), one of the oldest private investment firms. In 1993, he was recruited as the first outside Chairman and CEO of Westinghouse Electric Corporation headquartered in Pittsburgh. He led the company through one of the most comprehensive transformations of a major U.S. corporation, including its purchase of CBS Corporation, as the company was renamed. He retired from CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
in December 1998, became a private investor and authored a mystery novel.
In 2003, the board of Electronic Data Systems
Electronic Data Systems
HP Enterprise Services is the global business and technology services division of Hewlett Packard's HP Enterprise Business strategic business unit. It was formed by the combination of HP's legacy services consulting and outsourcing business and the integration of acquired Electronic Data Systems,...
asked Jordan to lead the company. As Chairman and CEO, he led a financial and operational turnaround. In 2007, he stepped down. He remained with the company as Chairman Emeritus until it was purchased by Hewlett Packard in 2008.
Jordan served on several corporate, private and non-profit boards. In 1992, he joined the Dell Computer Corporation’s Board of Directors, where he served until 2003, having played a critical role during an exceptional growth period in Dell’s history. From 1992 to 2007, he served on the Board of Directors at Aetna
Aetna
Aetna, Inc. is an American health insurance company, providing a range of traditional and consumer directed health care insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmaceutical, dental, behavioral health, group life, long-term care, and disability plans, and medical management...
. After his retirement from CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, Jordan became chairman of two companies, Luminant Worldwide Corporation in Dallas, where he served from 1999 to 2001, and eOriginal Inc., a Baltimore company on whose board he remained. He also served on the boards of several smaller, privately held companies, including BlackLight Power, Inc. located in Cranbury, NJ. He was a former board member of WPP Group
WPP Group
WPP plc is a global media communications services company with its main management office in London, United Kingdom and its executive office in Dublin, Ireland. It is the world's largest advertising group by revenues, and employs over 150,000 people in 2,400 offices in 107 countries...
plc.
Two of his favorite non-profit organizations were the Center for Excellence in Education
Center for Excellence in Education
The Center for Excellence in Education nurtures careers of excellence and leadership in science and technology for academically talented high school and college students. Co-founded in 1983 by the late Admiral Hyman G...
, founded by the late Admiral Hyman G. Rickover
Hyman G. Rickover
Hyman George Rickover was a four-star admiral of the United States Navy who directed the original development of naval nuclear propulsion and controlled its operations for three decades as director of Naval Reactors...
, and the United Negro College Fund
United Negro College Fund
The United Negro College Fund is an American philanthropic organization that fundraises college tuition money for black students and general scholarship funds for 39 private historically black colleges and universities. The UNCF was incorporated on April 25, 1944 by Frederick D. Patterson , Mary...
. He served on the Center’s board beginning in 1986, and as its chairman from 1988-1992. In 1986, he joined the Board of the United Negro College Fund
United Negro College Fund
The United Negro College Fund is an American philanthropic organization that fundraises college tuition money for black students and general scholarship funds for 39 private historically black colleges and universities. The UNCF was incorporated on April 25, 1944 by Frederick D. Patterson , Mary...
, and from 1994 to 2004, he served as its Chairman. He was a member of the Yale School of Management
Yale School of Management
The Yale School of Management is the graduate business school of Yale University and is located on Hillhouse Avenue in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. The School offers Master of Business Administration and Ph.D. degree programs. As of January 2011, 454 students were enrolled in its MBA...
Advisory Board and Chairman of the Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
Council Committee on Engineering and Applied Science.
Michael was a member of the President’s Export Council under the Clinton Administration, and chairman of its Subcommittee on Export Administration. He was a member of the Council of Retired Chief Executives, a former chairman of the National Foreign Trade Council
National Foreign Trade Council
Founded in 1914, the National Foreign Trade Council is the oldest and largest trade association advocating an open, rules-based international trade system. It serves hundreds of member companies in activities encompassing international trade policy, international tax policy, human resources, and...
; a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
; a trustee of The Brookings Institution
Brookings Institution
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D.C., in the United States. One of Washington's oldest think tanks, Brookings conducts research and education in the social sciences, primarily in economics, metropolitan policy, governance, foreign policy, and...
; a member and former chairman of the U.S.-Japan Business Council; a former member of The Business Council; a member of the board of trustees of the United States Council for International Business
United States Council for International Business
United States Council for International Business is an independent business advocacy group originally founded in 1945 to promote free trade and help represent U.S. business in the, then new, United Nations. One of its primary goals is expanding market access for U.S. products and services abroad...
; a member of the International Advisory Board of British-American Business Inc.; and a former member of the Business Roundtable
Business Roundtable
The Business Roundtable is a politically conservative group of chief executive officers of major U.S. corporations formed to promote pro-business public policy.-History:...
.