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John Smale Obituary
The former CEO and chairman, also a former General Motors Co. chairman, died Saturday in Cincinnati, a P&G spokesman said. He was 84. The Cincinnati-based company didn't immediately give details about how he died.
"Life would be awful long if you were working at something you didn't like to do," Smale, a graduate of Miami University in Ohio, reflected in a 2009 interview with the university's magazine. He said he spent years working until 10 or 11 p.m., and on weekends, "totally immersed in what I was doing" and "having a really good time."
Smale led P&G from 1981 to 1990 and was the seventh chief executive of the 174-year-old company. He also was chairman of General Motors Co. from 1992 to 1995 and was a board member of the automaker for more than two decades, beginning in 1982.
The Canadian with German ancestry graduated from Miami University in 1949. He joined P&G in 1952, working for what was then called the toilet goods division. He rose through the company, becoming president in charge of all U.S. operations in 1974 and chief executive in 1981. He added the chairmanship in 1986.
During his tenure, Smale moved P&G businesses into new markets in huge developing countries such as China, setting the stage for P&G's rapid growth in Asia in recent years. P&G also acquired Richardson-Vicks, which broadened the P&G portfolio to include Pantene shampoo, Olay skin cream and Vicks cough medicines, which are major brands today. In a smaller acquisition, P&G obtained the CoverGirl makeup brand that also is still growing.
As CEO, Smale also restructured P&G to become more efficient, speeding up development of new products and getting them to market. He accomplished this with new "category managers" who were assigned to oversee everything from innovation to promotion. The company revamped its marketing and began working more closely with retailers such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to improve store inventories and promotions of P&G products.
When announcing his plans in 1989 to step down, Smale said, "We've made watershed changes at P&G. ... They will bear fruit well into the next decade."
P&G had fallen behind rivals such as Colgate-Palmolive and Unilever in developing new markets abroad before Smale got the company thinking more globally. Today, P&G reaps the majority of its sales and most of its growth from overseas markets, company leaders say.
Smale also is credited with boosting the P&G Crest toothpaste brand, successfully gaining American Dental Association approval for the toothpaste and launching a campaign that became an advertising classic: "Look Mom, no cavities!"
"John brought together wisdom and courage, concern for people and commitment to the long term in a manner I've never seen exceeded," said John E. Pepper, who served as CEO from 1995 to 1999. "He was quite simply the most effective executive I've ever known."
Smale sent the company's current CEO, Bob McDonald, to Canada in 1989 for his first P&G assignment outside the United States. McDonald said Smale was "caring, yet demanding, principled and humble. .... He represented the soul of the company."
Smale served on the boards of several other companies, including Eastman Kodak and J.P. Morgan & Co. He received honorary doctorates from Miami and several other schools, and had kept up his ties with Miami.
The Listowel, Ontario, native spent much of his retirement in Marathon, Fla., where he enjoyed fly-fishing. He said he had been fishing since he was a child and even went fishing on his honeymoon.
Smale married in 1950, and he and his late wife, Phyllis, had four children. He courted his wife when he attended Miami and she attended the Western College for women, both in Oxford, Ohio. Smale credited his wife's support with enabling him to immerse himself into work he enjoyed, often staying on the job late at night and on weekends.
"I was so comfortable in my relationship with Phyllis, and so at ease there was no tension," he said in a 2009 interview for his alma mater's "Miamian" magazine. "The home life was totally supportive. I don't know what life would have been had I not had her."
He added: "I never really envisioned that I was going to end up as chief executive of Procter & Gamble. That's probably a good thing because it seems to me that if you're focused on making a success out of what you're doing, then, certainly at a company like P&G, you could assume that your personal success is going to take care of itself."
Copyright © 2011 The Associated Press
Memories and Condolences
for John Smale
25 Entries
Patricia Whiteside, Appraiser
January 22, 2014
A Brilliant Man: A Greater Loss:
The coastline John and Phyllis helped preserve forever
David Skipp
September 5, 2012
A bit of John and Phyllis' legacy also lives on in the form of a pristine, 3-kilometer stretch of coastline in Yucatan called Pez Maya. In 2003, they gave Amigos de Sian Kaan, a Mexican environmental agency and Nature Conservancy affiliate I worked with, the cornerstone gift that permitted the purchase of this strategic parcel that serves as a buffer between encroaching development and the UNESCO-designated Sian Kaan Biosphere. The Biosphere, in turn, supports the health of the surrounding lagoon and reef system, including the renowned fishing spot, Boca Paila Inlet, which abuts Pez Maya. They will be remembered by all who enjoy this priceless ecosystem. For info, [email protected]
Erica Ress Martin
December 3, 2011
John was a wonderful leader and an even better friend. Erica Ress Martin
Karen Archambault
December 2, 2011
I enjoyed the company of Mr. and Mrs. Smale. I have fond childhood memories coming to their house by the river with my grandparents who were good friends of theres. I remember being introduced to Salmon at their house and enjoying the telescope they had. Delightful people gone and not forgotten.
John Altman
December 1, 2011
John was a great friend,mentor, and fellow fly fisherman. His contributions to his alma mater, and the Nature Conservancy influenced many of us to emulate his efforts.
John W. Altman
Miami University
Claa of 1960
tyler neace
November 26, 2011
i didn't know john, but he sounds like a great leader and most importantly a great friend
Doris Atteberry
November 22, 2011
A great loss for the community. his many friends and family. W e all were privledged to have known him. My sympathy to his family. Doris Atteberry
a streicher
November 22, 2011
FAMILY OF JOHN SMALE: WE APPRECIATE HIS INOVATIONS, WHERE WOULD WE WOMEN BE TODAY? WE LOOK FORWARD TO THINKING HIM IN PERSON IN GODS NEW WORLD SOON AFTER ALL HIS KINGDOM IS STILL COMING!MATTHEW 6:9,10.
KEN&MARY O'DANIEL
November 21, 2011
WE ARE SENDING OUR LOVE,PRAYERS,&CONDOLENCES TO THE SMALE FAMILY,FRIENDS,&ALL WHO KNEW MR. SMALE.
Kelly Ryan
November 21, 2011
Our prayers and deepest sympathy are with you. The Kelly Ryan Family
Daniel Hoffheimer
November 21, 2011
John and Phyllis Smale were everything one could ask for in community citizens. And they were kind, caring, and delightful people--who are greatly missed but not forgotten
Stewart
November 21, 2011
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.
M.Victoria&Andrew
November 20, 2011
our condlonces
GodBless you
john smale
Thank you for all
the Great products
of Beauty more other
in UPC product inventions
to make use in our care..
condolences to the ceo of
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John Natale Salierno
November 20, 2011
Mr. John Smale was a supporter of Junior Achievment of Ohio,Indiana and Kentucky. His generosity help children from Cincinnati through J.A. I remember how the impact helped inner city children from Walnut Hills and Queensgate area. God Bless him and keep him in the palm of his hand.
Lisa
November 20, 2011
He was a great leader and a great human being, leaving a huge legacy for P&G and Cincinnati. I learned so much from him and am passing that learning on to others. Sending thoughts and prayers to his extended family.
Kent Cartner
November 20, 2011
God Bless Mr. Smale and his family. I worked for P & G from 78 - 2008 and appreciated all of his leadership and vision for the company.
November 20, 2011
What lessons along the way. For marriages, for parenting, for business ( ethics, thinking outside the box, commitment, vision!)
Thoughts and prayers to all of you still here in family and friendships! To include the seeds, and what reaps from the love of labor with dedicated commitment! A win win! He knew well the circle of life, and thanks Jay, Jr! Sally Everhart Proctor
Derek Farmer
November 20, 2011
I met Mr. Smale while working a GM Board meeting in Oklahoma City. He was very humble and unpretensious. I introduced him to his driver. While living in Cincinnati (Hyde Park), he and his wife would shop at a local Kroger. Although Chairman of GM, he and his wife went to the dealer and purchased her new Saturn. Mr. Smale was a true leader and made all around him feel that he was no different than they. Derek F. (Columbus, Ohio)
Elida Paredes
November 20, 2011
Our condolences to the family of Mr. Smale, without his long hours of work many people would not have the jobs at P&G they have today. I am one of those people working in the Kansas City plant and I enjoy my job.
May God wrap his arms around the entire family and receive Mr. Smale in his blessed arms.
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Paredes
cathy zamora
November 20, 2011
We are so sorry for your loss. the whole world will miss him.
John Rolwing
November 20, 2011
I was in the then Bar Soap and Household Cleaning Products Div on St. Louis. The year-end Division meeting was In Detroit (1971) and Mr. Smale gave a rousing talk on "Honest Sales bring honest success"...it was a pleasure to meet him...as our St Louis Division was # 1 nationally that year. Rest in Peace, Sir.
November 20, 2011
Our thoughts are with the family of John Smale. John Smale was one of our great leaders who had a vision for growing PG's business outside the US. That vison opened the door for our growth in Asia.
Randy Overton, PG
Chester & Ginger
November 20, 2011
We are sorry for the family's loss of Mr. Smale. Having purchased numerous items under the label 'Proctor & Gamble' we realize his influence on our daily duties.
May you receive strength and courage as you continue as Mr. Smale would want for you. He rests w/ God, standing next to Him, giving suggestions of ways to help the world.
November 20, 2011
Warm Summer Sun
Warm summer sun,
Shine kindly here,
Warm southern wind,
Blow softly here.
Green sod above,
Lie light, lie light.
Good night, dear heart,
Good night, good night.
By Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens)
The Poetry Foundation
Showing 1 - 25 of 25 results
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