John R. Opel

John Roberts Opel (January 5, 1925, in Kansas City, Missouri – November 3, 2011, in Fort Myers, Florida) was a U.S. computer businessman.[1] He served eleven years as the president of IBM between 1974 and 1985.[2] He then served as the CEO of IBM from 1981 to 1985[2]and he was chairman of IBM between 1983 and 1986.[2]

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Opel grew up in Jefferson City, Missouri. He majored in English at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. He then fought in the Philippines and Okinawa in World War II and earned a MBA degree from the University of Chicago in 1949.

Upon graduation, Opel had two job offers, one to rewrite economics textbooks, and the other to take over his father’s hardware business.[3] While taking a fishing trip with his father and a family friend who worked for IBM, he was offered a third job as a salesman in central Missouri, and accepted.

In 1959 Mr. Opel became executive assistant to IBM CEO Thomas J. Watson Jr., after which he rose rapidly, taking positions in manufacturing and public relations and other departments, and managed the introduction of the IBM System 360 mainframe computer in 1964.

Opel died at his Fort Myers, Florida home in 2011.[4] He was 86.

References

  1. ↑ "John R. Opel, '49". Chicago Booth School of Business. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 "John R. Opel". IBM. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
  3. ↑ New York Times 11/05/2011
  4. ↑ "Former CEO John Opel - An Appreciation - United States". IBM. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
Business positions
Preceded by
Frank T. Cary		 CEOs of IBM
1981–1985 		Succeeded by
John F. Akers


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