- Great American Business Leaders of the Twentieth Century
Ralph E. Ward
Chesebrough-Pond's
1968 - 1987
Personal Care & Home Products
b. 1921
| Personal | |
|---|---|
| Born-Died | 1921 |
| Birthplace | New Jersey (NJ) |
| Race | White |
| Father | Laborer, Skilled |
Ward was instrumental in transforming Chesebrough-Pond’s from a small cosmetics company into a major consumer products conglomerate. A formidable risk-taker, Ward was a master of acquiring mature, stagnant companies and putting them on an accelerated growth path. His acquisitions of Ragu Spaghetti Sauce, Bass Shoes, and Health-tex Children’s Clothing are textbook examples of successful mergers. He used Chesebrough’s marketing clout and presence to achieve stellar financial performance for over a decade.