Henry Ford II | |
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.jpg) Ford in 1963 | |
| Born | September 4, 1917 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | September 29, 1987 (aged 70) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Education | Yale University (did not graduate) |
| Occupation | Automobile executive |
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| Spouses |
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| Children | 3, including Edsel II |
| Parent | Edsel Ford (father) |
Henry Ford II (September 4, 1917 – September 29, 1987), sometimes known as "Hank the Deuce" or simply "the Deuce", was an American businessman in the automotive industry. He was the oldest son of Edsel Ford I and oldest grandson of Henry Ford. He served as president of the Ford Motor Company from 1945 to 1960, chief executive officer (CEO) from 1947 to 1979, and chairman of the board of directors from 1960 to 1980.[1] Under his leadership, Ford Motor Company became a publicly traded corporation in 1956. From 1943 to 1950, he also served as president of the Ford Foundation.
- ^ "Henry Ford". Archived from the original on February 13, 2007. Retrieved February 14, 2007.
Henry Ford I resigned for the second time at the end of World War II. His oldest grandson, Henry Ford II, became president on Sept. 21, 1945. Even as Henry Ford II drove the industry's first postwar car off the assembly line, he was making plans to reorganize and decentralize the company to resume its prewar position as a major force in a fiercely competitive auto industry. Henry Ford II provided strong leadership for Ford Motor Company from the postwar era into the 1980s. He was president from 1945 until 1960 and chief executive officer from 1945 until 1979. He was chairman of the board of directors from 1960 until 1980, and remained as chairman of the finance committee from 1980 until his death in 1987.