George A. Peapples
Encyclopedia
George A. Peapples was a General Motors
executive who was United States
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller)
from 1977 to 1980.
. He was educated at the University of Michigan
, receiving a B.A.
in Economics
in 1962 and an M.B.A. in Finance
in 1963.
After university, Peapples joined the General Motors
financial staff in Detroit. In 1968, he was transferred to the GM treasurer
's office in New York City
. There, he was promoted in 1971 to director of the capital analysis and investments section. In 1973, he became assistant divisional comptroller
of GM's Delco Moraine division. He became assistant treasurer, bank relations of GMC in 1975.
On October 12, 1977, President of the United States
Jimmy Carter
nominated Peapples as Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller)
, and Peapples subsequently held this office from November 3, 1977 until September 1980. He was awarded the Navy Distinguished Public Service Medal
for his work in the United States Department of the Navy
.
On leaving government service, Peapples returned to GM as assistant comptroller of the corporation. In 1982, he was made vice-president and finance manager of General Motors Canada
, and in 1986, he was promoted to become president and general manager of General Motors Canada. Peapples also served as a director of the Conference Board of Canada
.
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
executive who was United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller)
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller)
The Assistant Secretary of the Navy is a civilian office of the United States Department of the Navy...
from 1977 to 1980.
Biography
George A. Peapples was born on November 6, 1940 in Benton Harbor, MichiganBenton Harbor, Michigan
Benton Harbor is a city in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan which is located west of Kalamazoo. The population was 10,038 at the 2010 census. It is the lesser populated of the two principal cities included in the Niles-Benton Harbor, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a...
. He was educated at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, receiving a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
in 1962 and an M.B.A. in Finance
Finance
"Finance" is often defined simply as the management of money or “funds” management Modern finance, however, is a family of business activity that includes the origination, marketing, and management of cash and money surrogates through a variety of capital accounts, instruments, and markets created...
in 1963.
After university, Peapples joined the General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
financial staff in Detroit. In 1968, he was transferred to the GM treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
's office in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. There, he was promoted in 1971 to director of the capital analysis and investments section. In 1973, he became assistant divisional comptroller
Comptroller
A comptroller is a management level position responsible for supervising the quality of accounting and financial reporting of an organization.In British government, the Comptroller General or Comptroller and Auditor General is in most countries the external auditor of the budget execution of the...
of GM's Delco Moraine division. He became assistant treasurer, bank relations of GMC in 1975.
On October 12, 1977, President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
nominated Peapples as Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller)
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller)
The Assistant Secretary of the Navy is a civilian office of the United States Department of the Navy...
, and Peapples subsequently held this office from November 3, 1977 until September 1980. He was awarded the Navy Distinguished Public Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Public Service Award
The Navy Distinguished Public Service Award, established in 1951, is an award presented by the U.S. Secretary of the Navy to civilians for specific courageous or heroic acts or exceptionally outstanding service of substantial and long-term benefit to the Navy, Marine Corps, or Department of the...
for his work in the United States Department of the Navy
United States Department of the Navy
The Department of the Navy of the United States of America was established by an Act of Congress on 30 April 1798, to provide a government organizational structure to the United States Navy and, from 1834 onwards, for the United States Marine Corps, and when directed by the President, of the...
.
On leaving government service, Peapples returned to GM as assistant comptroller of the corporation. In 1982, he was made vice-president and finance manager of General Motors Canada
General Motors Canada
General Motors of Canada Limited is General Motors' Canadian division. Its national headquarters office, Canadian Regional Engineering Centre, and main manufacturing plants are located in Oshawa, Ontario. GM Canada is 100% owned by GM.As of Apr...
, and in 1986, he was promoted to become president and general manager of General Motors Canada. Peapples also served as a director of the Conference Board of Canada
Conference Board of Canada
The Conference Board of Canada is a not-for-profit Canadian organization dedicated to researching and analyzing economic trends, as well as organizational performance and public policy issues....
.