Gerard Swope

Gerard Swope ( born December 1, 1872 in St. Louis, Missouri, † November 20, 1957 in New York City ) was an American business manager.

Life

Gerard Swope was born into a Jewish family. His brother Herbert Bayard Swope was the journalist.

From 1922 to 1940 and from 1942 to 1945 he was president of General Electric ( GE). He sat in particular for an improvement of working conditions in his company. He was succeeded in this office Charles Edward Wilson ( 1876-1972 ). When he was appointed to the post of deputy chairman of the important war War Production Board ( WPB ), Swope returned out of retirement and took over the presidency again at GE was able to return to Wilson.

Swope was married to Mary Dayton Hill, who died in 1955. With her he had four children, including the astronomer Henrietta Hill Swope and photographer John Swope, who married actress Dorothy McGuire.

Prizes and Awards (selection)

• Knight of the Legion of Honour, France
• Hoover medal

Forbes magazine put Swope 2005 to rank 20 of the most influential businessmen of all time.