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Watson H. Vanderploeg

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Watson H. Vanderploeg (1888–1957) was an American executive who served as the general manager and president of the Kellogg's from 1939 to 1957.[1]

Early life and education

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Born in Iowa, Vanderploeg's early life involved farming, which later helped his work at Kellogg, where he was responsible for the production and distribution of corn-based breakfast cereals.[2][3] He completed his education from the Central University Academy in Pella, Iowa.[2] Later, he was also admitted to the Iowa Bar, though he never practiced law.[2]

Career

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Vanderploeg began his career in banking after graduation, becoming a messenger at a Pella bank.[2] He eventually acquired the bank, merged it with another, and managed the combined entity for six years before selling it.[2]

In 1924, the Iowa Banking Commission appointed him to handle the liquidation of five closed banks in Des Moines, a complex task that took six years to complete.[2] Following this, he moved to Chicago, where he became a vice president at the Harris Trust and Savings Bank.[2][1]

In 1937, Will Keith Kellogg invited him to join the Kellogg Company's board of directors.[2][4] In 1939, he was appointed as the president of the Kellogg.[2][5] During his tenure, the company saw growth, with sales increasing from $34 million to over $200 million and earnings growing four-fold.[3] He oversaw international expansion, with the establishment of new plants in Australia and the United Kingdom, and the introduction of new products, such as Special K cereal in 1955.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Obituary for W. H. VANDERPLOEG (Aged 63)". Chicago Tribune. May 29, 1957. p. 18. Archived from the original on March 15, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Watson Vanderploeg Dies at 68; President of Kellogg Company; Head of Cereal Concern Since 1939 Previously Had Been a Banker in Chicago". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2024-03-15.
  3. ^ a b c "Watson H. Vanderploeg – Leadership – Harvard Business School". www.hbs.edu. Archived from the original on 2024-01-14. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
  4. ^ Hunnicutt, Benjamin Kline (1992). "Kellogg's Six-Hour Day: A Capitalist Vision of Liberation through Managed Work Reduction". The Business History Review. 66 (3): 475–522. doi:10.2307/3116979. JSTOR 3116979. Archived from the original on 2024-03-15. Retrieved 2024-03-15 – via JSTOR.
  5. ^ "Kellogg Company | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Archived from the original on 2023-09-27. Retrieved 2024-03-15.