Chairman and CEO, Ford Motor Company
1986
Bio:
Background information is taken from Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota web site. "Donald E. Petersen became Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Office of Ford Motor Company on February 1, 1985. Prior to his election as Chairman, Mr. Petersen has been President and Chief Operation Officer since March 13, 1980. He was a member of the Board of Directors from September 8, 1977. Born in Pipestone, Minnesota on September 4, 1926, Mr. Petersen joined Ford in 1949 after receiving a master's degree in Business Administration from Stanford University. He received a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington in 1946. Mr. Petersen served in the U.S. Marine Corp in World War II and the Korean War. Mr. Petersen received the University of Washington's Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1981. He received the Stanford Business School Alumni Association's Arbuckle Award for outstanding achievement in business management in 1985. He remains active in various capacities at both schools. In 1986, Mr. Petersen became the first recipient of the American Achievement Award, presented by Brookgreen Gardens, South Carolina for 'significant contributions to the United States through achievement in the areas of industry, business, science, and the arts.' Mr. Petersen is a member of the Business Council, the National Academy of Engineering, the Society of Automotive Engineers, and the Engineering Society of Detroit. He served as a director on the boards of The Boeing Company, Dow Jones & Co., and Hewlett-Packard Company." Commencement, University of Detroit, May 17, 1986.