Great American Business Leaders of the 20th Century
Donald H. Rumsfeld
Searle (G. D.) and Company
1977–1985
1977–1985
Searle (G. D.) and Company
1977–1985
1977–1985
- Industry: Healthcare
- Era: 1970
After Daniel Searle had all but run his family’s company into the ground, Rumsfeld took over and began cutting costs across the board. After selling off the majority of Searle’s non-pharmaceutical business with the exception of the Pearle Vision chain, Rumsfeld’s trimming helped Searle turn a profit of over $120 million in 1982. The real success of Searle under Rumsfeld, however, came with the FDA approval of Aspartame, the artificial sweetener that became popular and very profitable for Searle during the 1980s diet craze.
Personal
- Born-Died: 1932
- Birthplace: Illinois
- Race: White
- Gender: Male
- Father: White Collar Worker
Education / Military
- Undergraduate: Princeton University
- Military Service: Navy