Philip B. Hofmann
Encyclopedia
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
.
Hofmann was born on May 25, 1909, in Ottumwa, Iowa
, where his father was a pharmacist. He graduated from Ottumwa High School
in 1926. He earned his undergraduate degree in 1930 at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
with a major in economics.
He was hired by Johnson & Johnson in 1931, starting work there as a shipping clerk. He went to work for Johnson & Johnson's newly formed Ortho Products
division in Linden, New Jersey
, and was the unit's president by 1944. He was named as Johnson & Johnson's chief executive officer in 1963 as the first non-family member to lead the company, succeeding Robert Wood Johnson II
. He served as CEO until 1974, when he was succeeded by Richard B. Sellars
.
He helped establish the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
, the largest philanthropy in the United States devoted exclusively to health and health care.
After having been nominated to the position by Governor of New Jersey
William T. Cahill
in July 1973, Hofmann resigned as one of the six commissioners representing the Garden State on the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
, citing a conflict with Governor Brendan Byrne
over the Port Authority's role in mass transit.
Hofmann was an avid horse breeder, and owned Wycombe House Stud of Reddick, Florida
, where the horses he raised included Gold Beauty, the American Champion Sprint Horse of 1982. He participated in horse shows, driving a four-in-hand
.
Hofmann died of a heart attack
at age 77 on December 29, 1986, at the Miami Heart Institute. He had been a resident of Monmouth Beach, New Jersey
and Surfside, Florida
. He was survived by his wife, the former Georgia Felhaber, as well as by two daughters and two grandchildren.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
business executive who was the first non-family member to serve chairman and chief executive officer of the healthcare firm 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....
.
Hofmann was born on May 25, 1909, in Ottumwa, Iowa
Ottumwa, Iowa
Ottumwa is a city in and the county seat of Wapello County, Iowa, United States. The population was 24,998 at the 2000 census. It is located in the southeastern part of Iowa, and the city is split into northern and southern halves by the Des Moines River....
, where his father was a pharmacist. He graduated from Ottumwa High School
Ottumwa High School
Ottumwa High School is a public high school located in Ottumwa, Iowa. It is part of the Ottumwa Community School District, and it is the district's only high school. It was established in 1923. The school sports mascot is a Bulldog.- History :...
in 1926. He earned his undergraduate degree in 1930 at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
The Wharton School is the business school of the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Wharton was the world’s first collegiate business school and the first business school in the United States...
with a major in economics.
He was hired by Johnson & Johnson in 1931, starting work there as a shipping clerk. He went to work for Johnson & Johnson's newly formed Ortho Products
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:...
division in Linden, New Jersey
Linden, New Jersey
- Local government :, the Mayor of Linden is . The former longtime Mayor of Linden is 82-year-old John T. Gregorio, who served as mayor of Linden for 30, nonconsecutive years and was repeatedly tagged with scandal during his mayoral career, including one felony conviction, later pardoned, which...
, and was the unit's president by 1944. He was named as Johnson & Johnson's chief executive officer in 1963 as the first non-family member to lead the company, succeeding 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...
. He served as CEO until 1974, when he was succeeded by Richard B. Sellars
Richard B. Sellars
Richard Beverland Sellars was an American business executive who served as chairman and CEO of Johnson & Johnson as part of 40 years with the healthcare product firm...
.
He helped establish 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 in the United States devoted exclusively to health and health care.
After having been nominated to the position by Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
William T. Cahill
William T. Cahill
William Thomas Cahill was an American Republican Party politician who served as the 46th Governor of New Jersey, from 1970 to 1974, and who represented New Jersey's 1st congressional district in the U.S...
in July 1973, Hofmann resigned as one of the six commissioners representing the Garden State on the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bi-state port district, established in 1921 through an interstate compact, that runs most of the regional transportation infrastructure, including the bridges, tunnels, airports, and seaports, within the Port of New York and New Jersey...
, citing a conflict with Governor Brendan Byrne
Brendan Byrne
Brendan Thomas Byrne is an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey, who served as the 47th Governor of New Jersey, from 1974 to 1982.-Early life and education:...
over the Port Authority's role in mass transit.
Hofmann was an avid horse breeder, and owned Wycombe House Stud of Reddick, Florida
Reddick, Florida
Reddick is a town in Marion County, Florida, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 571. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 618...
, where the horses he raised included Gold Beauty, the American Champion Sprint Horse of 1982. He participated in horse shows, driving a four-in-hand
Four-in-hand (carriage)
A four-in-hand is a carriage drawn by a team of four horses having the reins rigged in such a way that it can be driven by a single driver. The stagecoach and the tally-ho are usually four-in-hand coaches....
.
Hofmann died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at age 77 on December 29, 1986, at the Miami Heart Institute. He had been a resident of Monmouth Beach, New Jersey
Monmouth Beach, New Jersey
Monmouth Beach is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 3,279....
and Surfside, Florida
Surfside, Florida
Surfside is a town in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The population was 4,909 at the 2000 census. As of 2005, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 4,710.-Geography:...
. He was survived by his wife, the former Georgia Felhaber, as well as by two daughters and two grandchildren.