Joseph D. Williams (executive)
Joseph D. Williams (1926–2021) was an American executive who served as chief executive officer (CEO) of Parke-Davis and later of Warner-Lambert during the early 1980s.[1]
Early life and education
[edit]Williams was born in 1926 in Washington, D.C.[2][3] He developed an interest in pharmacy as a youth by working at his grandfather's drugstore in Pawnee City, Nebraska.[4] Williams served in the United States Navy during World War II, after which he attended the University of Nebraska College of Pharmacy on the G.I. Bill.[4] He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and pharmacy from the University of Nebraska, becoming a registered pharmacist.[5][3]
Career
[edit]After completing his studies, Williams joined Parke-Davis in 1950 as a traveling sales representative.[3] He advanced within the firm, serving as a vice president by 1970 and eventually as president and chief executive in the early 1970s.[5] When Warner-Lambert acquired Parke-Davis in 1970, Williams transitioned to Warner-Lambert's leadership team, becoming president of its pharmaceutical division in 1976 and president of the company in 1979.[5][6]
Later in 1979, Williams assumed the role of chief executive officer at Warner-Lambert, and he was named chairman of the board of directors in the mid-1980s.[7][8] He remained in these positions until his retirement in 1991.[6] During this period, Warner-Lambert initiated a restructuring program to address declining profits, divesting non-core subsidiaries and improving operational efficiency.[7] Under Williams's tenure, the company increased its investment in research and development, recruited scientific personnel and focused on prescription medications, including the cholesterol-lowering drug Lopid (gemfibrozil).[7] These measures increased Warner-Lambert's profitability, with annual revenues exceeding $4 billion by the end of the 1980s.[2]
In addition to his executive duties, Williams served on the boards of AT&T, Exxon, and J.C. Penney.[5] After retiring as CEO in 1991, he continued to advise Warner-Lambert as chairman of its executive committee and as a consultant.[6]
Personal life
[edit]Joseph D. Williams was married to Millie E. Williams, and together they were active in philanthropic and educational causes.[4] In 2014, the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) named the Joseph D. & Millie E. Williams Science Hall on its Omaha campus in honor of the couple's support.[4] Williams also helped establish an endowed faculty chair (the Parke-Davis Chair in Pharmaceutics) and scholarship funds at the UNMC College of Pharmacy.[9]
Awards and recognition
[edit]- Remington Medal (1980)[4]
- Hugo H. Schaefer Award (1987)[10]
- Legion of Merit Award (2014)[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "Curing Warner Lambert Before It Gets Sick - Bloomberg".
- ^ a b "Joseph D. Williams - Leadership - Harvard Business School". www.hbs.edu.
- ^ a b c Wiggins, Philip H. (November 28, 1984). "BUSINESS PEOPLE ; Warner-Lambert Elects New Chief" – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ a b c d e Keenan, John (March 31, 2021). "Remembering UNMC supporter Joe Williams". Newsroom.
- ^ a b c d https://b4utrade.brand.edgar-online.com/DisplayFilingRTFandXSL.aspx?filingid=60352&type=convpdf
- ^ a b c d Good, Steve (September 24, 2014). "Nebraska Alpha (Nebraska) Phi Joe Williams Receives the Legion of Merit Award". Phi Delta Theta.
- ^ a b c "Warner-lambert Co | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com.
- ^ Gilpin, Kenneth N. (June 25, 1985). "BUSINESS PEOPLE; WARNER-LAMBERT CHOOSES PRESIDENT" – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/12/23/joe-williams-a-true-only-in-nebraska-story-leaves-20-million-gift-to-unmc/
- ^ Today, UNMC (December 15, 1997). "UNMC College of Pharmacy Receives $100,000 Gift for Scholarships". Newsroom.