John H. Dowd
Encyclopedia
John H. Dowd
After graduating from the University of Connecticut
he was accepted at the Harvard School of Business at which he received his MBA in 1948. After graduation, he spent a few years at Standard Brands before moving on to an 18 year career with various advertising agencies in both Boston and New York. During this time, he directed the preparation of advertising for everything from margarine and meat spreads to chemicals and concrete.
In 1966, Jack joined Hershey Chocolate Company
as Brands Manager and advanced his way to Vice President of New Business Development. He introduced the concepts of Brands Management and Marketing Plans and later participated in the initiation of the first consumer advertising program in the company's history, all while directing the development and introduction of dozens of new products. In 1982, Jack negotiated a contract for Reese's Pieces
to tie in with Steven Spielberg
's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
, the first promotion in the company's history for which he was featured in People Magazine and named "Consumer Products Man of the Year" by Sales and Marketing magazine. His story was included in the book Emperors of Chocolate and in the February 1999 issue of Readers Digest. In 1999 he was inducted into the University of Connecticut
School of Business Hall of Fame.
Mr. Dowd has served as Chairman of the Board of the Association of National Advertisers
as well as on the Board of the Advertising Council. His civic activities included service on the Board of the Harrisburg area Red Cross and then as Interim Executive Director.
During World War II, Jack served in a unit charged with conducting patrols behind enemy lines. He was awarded a Silver Star
, three Bronze Stars, three Purple Heart
s and the Combat Infantryman Badge
. He was later transferred to Military Intelligence
and discharged as a 1st Lieutenant.
After graduating from the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
he was accepted at the Harvard School of Business at which he received his MBA in 1948. After graduation, he spent a few years at Standard Brands before moving on to an 18 year career with various advertising agencies in both Boston and New York. During this time, he directed the preparation of advertising for everything from margarine and meat spreads to chemicals and concrete.
In 1966, Jack joined Hershey Chocolate Company
The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company, known until April 2005 as the Hershey Foods Corporation and commonly called Hershey's, is the largest chocolate manufacturer in North America. Its headquarters are in Hershey, Pennsylvania, which is also home to Hershey's Chocolate World. It was founded by Milton S...
as Brands Manager and advanced his way to Vice President of New Business Development. He introduced the concepts of Brands Management and Marketing Plans and later participated in the initiation of the first consumer advertising program in the company's history, all while directing the development and introduction of dozens of new products. In 1982, Jack negotiated a contract for Reese's Pieces
Reese's Pieces
Reese's Pieces are a peanut butter flavored candy manufactured by The Hershey Company for the North American market; they are also available in Ireland & The United Kingdom. They are circular in shape and covered in candy shells that are colored either yellow, orange, or brown. They can be...
to tie in with Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a 1982 American science fiction film co-produced and directed by Steven Spielberg, written by Melissa Mathison and starring Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore, and Peter Coyote...
, the first promotion in the company's history for which he was featured in People Magazine and named "Consumer Products Man of the Year" by Sales and Marketing magazine. His story was included in the book Emperors of Chocolate and in the February 1999 issue of Readers Digest. In 1999 he was inducted into the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
School of Business Hall of Fame.
Mr. Dowd has served as Chairman of the Board of the Association of National Advertisers
Association of National Advertisers
The Association of National Advertisers is a representative body for the marketing community in the United States of America. ANA’s membership includes over 400 companies with 9,000 brands that collectively spend over one hundred billion dollars in marketing communications and advertising....
as well as on the Board of the Advertising Council. His civic activities included service on the Board of the Harrisburg area Red Cross and then as Interim Executive Director.
During World War II, Jack served in a unit charged with conducting patrols behind enemy lines. He was awarded a Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
, three Bronze Stars, three Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
s and the Combat Infantryman Badge
Combat Infantryman Badge
The Combat Infantryman Badge is the U.S. Army combat service recognition decoration awarded to soldiers—enlisted men and officers holding colonel rank or below, who personally fought in active ground combat while an assigned member of either an infantry or a Special Forces unit, of brigade size...
. He was later transferred to Military Intelligence
Military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
and discharged as a 1st Lieutenant.