John Stuart (CEO)
Encyclopedia
John Stuart was the chief executive officer
of the Quaker Oats Company
from 1922 to 1953.
in 1877, the son of Robert Stuart
and his wife Margaret. He was educated at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools
. As a teenager, he would work in his father's mill in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
sweeping floors. After high school, he was educated at Princeton University
, graduating in 1900.
In 1899, Stuart's father and his business partner Henry Parsons Crowell
had used a proxy fight
to gain control of the American Cereal Company from Ferdinand Schumacher
. In 1901, they renamed the company the Quaker Oats Company
, to take advantage of the brand previously built up by Crowell's Quaker Mill Company
. In 1907, at age 30, Stuart was named a director
of the Quaker Oats Company and soon became thoroughly acquainted with the business.
Stuart took over as CEO of the Quaker Oats Company in 1922, at age 43. His brother R. Douglas Stuart
then took over marketing responsibilities from Crowell a short time later. During Stuart's time as CEO, the company introduced new products, such as Puffed Wheat and Puffed Rice
. The company purchased Aunt Jemima
in 1925. The company diversified in 1942 with the purchase of dog food
brand Ken-L Ration
, to be followed up by the acquisition of the Puss 'n Boots cat food
brand in 1950. Stuart stepped down as CEO in 1953, handing the reins to his designated successor Donold Lourie
.
In addition to his work at the Quaker Oats Company, Stuart sat on the board of directors of International Harvester
, the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
, the Pennsylvania Railroad
, and Northern Trust
. He was a trustee
of Princeton University
and of the University of Chicago
.
Also, in 1947, at the request of President of the United States
Harry Truman, Stuart was a member of the Hoover Commission
.
Stuart was married to the former Ellen Shumway. Together the couple had two daughters and a son, John Stuart, Jr.
Stuart died at Lake Forest Hospital
on December 26, 1969.
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of the Quaker Oats Company
Quaker Oats Company
The Quaker Oats Company is an American food conglomerate based in Chicago. It has been owned by Pepsico since 2001.-History:Quaker Oats was founded in 1901 by the merger of four oat mills:...
from 1922 to 1953.
Biography
John Stuart was born in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in 1877, the son of Robert Stuart
Robert Stuart (businessman)
Robert Stuart was a United States businessman who was one of the founders of the Quaker Oats Company.-Biography:Robert Stuart's father, John Stuart, opened a mill in Embro, Ontario in the mid-1850s. In 1873, Stuart and his father moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, opening an oatmeal mill there...
and his wife Margaret. He was educated at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools
University of Chicago Laboratory Schools
The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools is a private, co-educational day school in Chicago, Illinois. It is affiliated with the University of Chicago...
. As a teenager, he would work in his father's mill in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, north of Iowa City and east of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city...
sweeping floors. After high school, he was educated at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, graduating in 1900.
In 1899, Stuart's father and his business partner Henry Parsons Crowell
Henry Parsons Crowell
Henry Parsons Crowell was an American businessman, founder of the Quaker Oats Company and a philanthropist.At the end of the 19th century, steam engines, telegraph and telephone systems, electricity and typewriters were part of the explosion of technology in America.- Character :Henry Parsons...
had used a proxy fight
Proxy fight
A proxy fight or proxy battle is an event that may occur when a corporation's stockholders develop opposition to some aspect of the corporate governance, often focusing on directorial and management positions. Corporate activists may attempt to persuade shareholders to use their proxy votes A proxy...
to gain control of the American Cereal Company from Ferdinand Schumacher
Ferdinand Schumacher
Ferdinand Schumacher , aka The Oatmeal King, was a German immigrant, an American entrepreneur and one of the founders of companies which merged to become the Quaker Oats Company.-Biography:...
. In 1901, they renamed the company the Quaker Oats Company
Quaker Oats Company
The Quaker Oats Company is an American food conglomerate based in Chicago. It has been owned by Pepsico since 2001.-History:Quaker Oats was founded in 1901 by the merger of four oat mills:...
, to take advantage of the brand previously built up by Crowell's Quaker Mill Company
Quaker Mill Company
The Quaker Mill Company was a 19th-century American oat mill company in Ravenna, Ohio. After merging with three other companies in 1901, the company became the Quaker Oats Company, now a subsidiary of PepsiCo.-History:...
. In 1907, at age 30, Stuart was named a director
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of the Quaker Oats Company and soon became thoroughly acquainted with the business.
Stuart took over as CEO of the Quaker Oats Company in 1922, at age 43. His brother R. Douglas Stuart
R. Douglas Stuart
Robert Douglas Stuart was a United States businessman who served as United States Ambassador to Canada from 1953 to 1956.-Biography:R. Douglas Stuart was born in Chicago in 1886, the son of Robert Stuart and his wife Margaret...
then took over marketing responsibilities from Crowell a short time later. During Stuart's time as CEO, the company introduced new products, such as Puffed Wheat and Puffed Rice
Puffed rice
Puffed rice is a type of puffed grain made from rice; usually made by heating rice kernels under high pressure in the presence of steam, though the method of manufacture varies widely.-Origin:Pori has been mentioned in various Tamil...
. The company purchased Aunt Jemima
Aunt Jemima
Aunt Jemima is a trademark for pancake flour, syrup, and other breakfast foods currently owned by the Quaker Oats Company of Chicago. The trademark dates to 1893, although Aunt Jemima pancake mix debuted in 1889. The Quaker Oats Company first registered the Aunt Jemima trademark in April 1937...
in 1925. The company diversified in 1942 with the purchase of dog food
Dog food
Dog food refers to food specifically intended for consumption by dogs. Though technically omnivorous, dogs exhibit a natural carnivorous bias, have sharp, pointy teeth, and have short gastrointestinal tracts better suited for the consumption of meat...
brand Ken-L Ration
Ken-L Ration
Ken-L Ration is the name of a brand of dog food. The brand offered both canned and dry dog food. Ken-L Ration was owned by Quaker Oats, but the brand was sold to H. J. Heinz Co. in 1995. Since being sold, the brand has faded into obscurity, although vast amounts of Ken-L Ration memorabilia can be...
, to be followed up by the acquisition of the Puss 'n Boots cat food
Cat food
Cat food is food intended for consumption by cats.As with all species, cats have requirements for specific dietary nutrients, rather than ingredients. Certain nutrients, including many vitamins and amino acids, are degraded by the temperatures, pressures and chemical treatments used during...
brand in 1950. Stuart stepped down as CEO in 1953, handing the reins to his designated successor Donold Lourie
Donold Lourie
Donold B. Lourie was an American businessman, government official, and college football player. He served for many years as the president of the Quaker Oats Company, and held various other executive positions there and for several other businesses. President Dwight D...
.
In addition to his work at the Quaker Oats Company, Stuart sat on the board of directors of International Harvester
International Harvester
International Harvester Company was a United States agricultural machinery, construction equipment, vehicle, commercial truck, and household and commercial products manufacturer. In 1902, J.P...
, the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce is one of Canada's chartered banks, fifth largest by deposits. The bank is headquartered at Commerce Court in Toronto, Ontario. CIBC's Institution Number is 010, and its SWIFT code is CIBCCATT....
, the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
, and Northern Trust
Northern Trust
Northern Trust Corporation is an international financial services company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It provides investment management, asset and fund administration, fiduciary and banking services through a network of 85 offices in 18 U.S. states and 12 international offices in North...
. He was a trustee
Trustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
of Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and of the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
.
Also, in 1947, at the request of 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....
Harry Truman, Stuart was a member of the Hoover Commission
Hoover Commission
The Hoover Commission, officially named the Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government, was a body appointed by President Harry S. Truman in 1947 to recommend administrative changes in the Federal Government of the United States...
.
Stuart was married to the former Ellen Shumway. Together the couple had two daughters and a son, John Stuart, Jr.
John Stuart, Jr.
-Biography:John Stuart, Jr. was born in 1912, the son of John Stuart and his wife Ellen. He was educated at the Asheville School. He then attended Princeton University, graduating in 1936...
Stuart died at Lake Forest Hospital
Lake Forest Hospital
Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital is a community-based hospital in Lake Forest, Illinois and a wholly owned subsidiary of Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, one of the nation's premiere academic medical centers...
on December 26, 1969.