Richard B. Sellars
Encyclopedia
Richard Beverland Sellars (September 9, 1915 – June 25, 2010) was an American
business executive who served as chairman and CEO of Johnson & Johnson
as part of 40 years with the healthcare product firm. Sellars played a pivotal role in keeping the company's headquarters in New Brunswick, New Jersey
, and worked to rebuild that city's downtown area.
Born on September 9, 1915, Sellars grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts
. He attended American International College
and Maryville College
, but did not graduate from either school.
In 1939 Johnson & Johnson hired Sellars as a salesman in its Ortho Pharmaceutical
business unit. He worked his way up and became Ortho's vice president by 1948. He was shifted to J&J's Ethicon Inc.
unit and became its president in December 1949, succeeding Philip B. Hofmann
. In April 1970, he became president of Johnson & Johnson Worldwide. He Became Johnson & Johnson's chairman of the board and chief executive office in 1973, becoming the second person from outside the Johnson family to lead the firm.
Sellars convinced the firm's board to remain in the urban confines of New Brunswick, rather than move to the suburbs, and worked as part of the New Brunswick Development Corporation to help revitalize the city. He helped bring in I. M. Pei
to redesign New Brunswick's downtown area. With headquarters in New Brunswick, he felt that the firm had an obligation to the city and that "the survival of our country depends on the survival of its cities, so we'd all better get involved in cleaning them up."
J&J announced that Sellars would step down as CEO as of November 1, 1976, and be replaced by James E. Burke
. After stepping down as CEO, he served on the board's finance committee until 1979. From 1981 to 1996, he served as a trustee of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
, the largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to health and health care in the United States. He worked closely with Robert Wood Johnson II
, who established the foundation, in shaping its goals and objectives.
Sellars died at age 94 at his home in Osterville, Massachusetts
on June 25, 2010. He was survived by his wife, the former Doris Sophia Johnson, as well as by two daughters, two sons, nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. He and his wife had lived in Peapack-Gladstone, New Jersey
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
business executive who served as chairman and CEO of Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson is an American multinational pharmaceutical, medical devices and consumer packaged goods manufacturer founded in 1886. Its common stock is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the company is listed among the Fortune 500....
as part of 40 years with the healthcare product firm. Sellars played a pivotal role in keeping the company's headquarters in New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is the county seat and the home of Rutgers University. The city is located on the Northeast Corridor rail line, southwest of Manhattan, on the southern bank of the Raritan River. At the 2010 United States Census, the population of...
, and worked to rebuild that city's downtown area.
Born on September 9, 1915, Sellars grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
. He attended American International College
American International College
American International College is a private, co-educational liberal-arts college located in the Mason Square neighborhood of Springfield, Massachusetts.-History:...
and Maryville College
Maryville College
Maryville College is a private four-year liberal arts college in Maryville, Tennessee, near Knoxville. It was founded in 1819 by Presbyterian minister Isaac L. Anderson for the purpose of furthering education and enlightenment into the West. The College is one of the fifty oldest colleges in the...
, but did not graduate from either school.
In 1939 Johnson & Johnson hired Sellars as a salesman in its Ortho Pharmaceutical
Ortho Pharmaceutical
Ortho Pharmaceutical was initially formed in the United States in 1931 as a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson to market the first prescription spermicidal contraceptive jelly, Ortho-Gynol.-History:...
business unit. He worked his way up and became Ortho's vice president by 1948. He was shifted to J&J's Ethicon Inc.
Ethicon Inc.
Ethicon, Inc. is a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. It was incorporated as a separate company under the Johnson & Johnson umbrella in 1949 to expand and diversify the Johnson & Johnson product line....
unit and became its president in December 1949, succeeding Philip B. Hofmann
Philip B. Hofmann
Philip B. Hofmann was an American business executive who was the first non-family member to serve chairman and chief executive officer of the healthcare firm Johnson & Johnson....
. In April 1970, he became president of Johnson & Johnson Worldwide. He Became Johnson & Johnson's chairman of the board and chief executive office in 1973, becoming the second person from outside the Johnson family to lead the firm.
Sellars convinced the firm's board to remain in the urban confines of New Brunswick, rather than move to the suburbs, and worked as part of the New Brunswick Development Corporation to help revitalize the city. He helped bring in I. M. Pei
I. M. Pei
Ieoh Ming Pei , commonly known as I. M. Pei, is a Chinese American architect, often called a master of modern architecture. Born in Canton, China and raised in Hong Kong and Shanghai, Pei drew inspiration at an early age from the gardens at Suzhou...
to redesign New Brunswick's downtown area. With headquarters in New Brunswick, he felt that the firm had an obligation to the city and that "the survival of our country depends on the survival of its cities, so we'd all better get involved in cleaning them up."
J&J announced that Sellars would step down as CEO as of November 1, 1976, and be replaced by James E. Burke
James E. Burke
James E. Burke was the chief executive officer of Johnson & Johnson from 1976 to 1989, a company for which he worked forty years.-Early life:...
. After stepping down as CEO, he served on the board's finance committee until 1979. From 1981 to 1996, he served as a trustee of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is the United States' largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to health and health care; it is based in Princeton, New Jersey. The foundation's mission is to improve the health and health care of all Americans...
, the largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to health and health care in the United States. He worked closely with Robert Wood Johnson II
Robert Wood Johnson II
Robert Wood "General" Johnson II was an American businessman. He was one of the sons of Robert Wood Johnson I . He turned the family business into one of the world's largest healthcare corporations.- Early life :Johnson was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey...
, who established the foundation, in shaping its goals and objectives.
Sellars died at age 94 at his home in Osterville, Massachusetts
Osterville, Massachusetts
Osterville is one of the seven villages within the Town of Barnstable, Massachusetts. The village of Osterville is located on the south side of Barnstable on Nantucket Sound...
on June 25, 2010. He was survived by his wife, the former Doris Sophia Johnson, as well as by two daughters, two sons, nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. He and his wife had lived in Peapack-Gladstone, New Jersey
Peapack-Gladstone, New Jersey
Peapack and Gladstone is a borough in Somerset County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the borough population was 2,582...
.