Ward, Lloyd 1949–
Lloyd Ward 1949–
Corporate executive
Inspired by Parents to Succeed
Marked “Watershed Moments” for African Americans
During a 1998 interview with Brandweek, Lloyd Ward issued this statement. “I challenge people to act differently, think differently. If better is possible, then good is not enough. You have to reach beyond what you think you can do.” throughout his illustrious career, Ward has challenged himself and those around him to exceed their own expectations. In the process, he has established himself as a rising star among business leaders.
Lloyd Ward was born on January 22, 1949, in Romulus, Michigan. One of five children, he learned the value of hard work early on from his parents, Sadie and Rubert Ward. His father supported the family by working three jobs: letter carrier, movie house janitor, and minister. When people accuse Ward of working too hard, he is quick to point out that his efforts pale in comparison to his father’s. “I’m still not working nearly as hard as my father did, and I will make in one year more than he made in a lifetime,” Ward was quoted as saying in a 1995 Black Enterprise profile.
Inspired by Parents to Succeed
Although Rubert Ward died when Lloyd was 18 years old, he still received plenty of inspiration. At the age of 50, his mother returned to school and earned her bachelor’s degree. She eventually received a master’s degree in social work. Through their example, Ward’s parents laid the foundation for his development into an individual who was willing to set lofty goals and expend the time and effort needed to attain them.
After graduating from high school, Ward enrolled at Michigan State University, where he honed his competitive edge as a standout member of the varsity basketball team. He received his B.S. in mechanical engineering from Michigan State in 1970, then signed on as a design engineer for paper products and packaging technology at Procter & Gamble. Ward spent 18 years at Proctor & Gamble and rose steadily through the corporate ranks. Along the way, he earned an MBA from Xavier University in 1984. In 1988, Ward was named general manager of Proctor & Gamble’s dish care products section. As general manager, he was responsible for the engineering, manufacturing, product development, advertising, and brand management of the company’s well-known dish care line.
“At P&G, I learned the importance and value of understanding the consumer and being market-driven,” Ward remarked in a 1998 Brandweek article. “It was about what was underneath the want and need, the ‘why’ beneath the want and need…. Innovation should come from the consumer.” Although working at Proctor & Gamble provided Ward with valuable learning experiences, the company ultimately did not offer the long-term opportunities that Ward desired. As a result, he never felt that he could become a true leader at Proctor & Gamble.
Climbed the Corporate Ladder
At a Glance…
Born on January 22, 1949, in Romulus, Ml; son of Rubert (a letter carrier, janitor, and minister) and Sadie (a social worker) Ward; married Estralita “Lita” Ward, c. 1970; children: Lloyd II and Lance. Education: Michigan State University, BS, 1970; Xavier University, MBA, 1964.
Career: Procter & Gamble, various positions, including design engineer, group leader, engineering manager, 1970-88, general manager for dish care products, 1988; PepsiCo, vice president of operations for Pepsi Cola East, 1988-91, president, Frito-Lay Western Division, 1991-92, president, Frito-Lay Central Division, 1992-96; Maytag Appliances, president and chief operating officer, 1996-99; Maytag Corp., chief executive officer, 1999–; iMotors.com, chief executive officer, 2001; U.S. Olympic Committee, chairman and chief executive officer, 2002-03, BodyBlocks, chairman and chief executive officer, 2004–.
Awards: Black Enterprise, Executive of the Year, 1995; America’s Best and Brightest Business and Professional Men and Women list, Dollars and Sense, Michigan State University, Jack Breslin Lifetime Achievement Award, 1996; Michigan State University, Alumni of the Year, 1998; Business Week Magazine, “Top 25 Executives” 1998; BrandWeek Magazine, “Marketer of the Year” 1998.
Addresses: Office —BodyBlocks, 3340 Peachtree St., NE, Suite 1800, Atlanta, GA 30326.
In 1988, Ward left Proctor & Gamble and accepted a position with the Pepsi-Cola Co. as vice president of operations for Pepsi-Cola East. At Pepsi, he found plenty of room to build on his leadership aspirations. After only two years at the company, Ward was promoted to president of PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay Western Division in 1991. The following year, he advanced to president of Frito-Lay’s Central Division, its largest division. At the Central Division, Ward oversaw the operations of an entity that sold more than $1.3 billion dollars worth of snacks per year. Comprised of 12 midwestern and south-central states, the Central Division employed 8,500 people in manufacturing, distribution, sales, and marketing.
In 1995, Ward was named Black Enterprise Executive of the Year. The magazine spoke lavishly of the energy and charisma he brings to every position he occupies. Frito-Lay CEO Steven Reinemund was quoted as saying in Black Enterprise, “He’s done a wonderful job with his team…. Lloyd’s a very effective leader—charismatic, and energetic and very principled. People respond to that.”
As president of the Central Division, Ward was committed to working with the African American community in Dallas, the division’s home base. He and other members of his division adopted A. C. Maceo Smith High School, a predominantly African American School with a large number of “at-risk” students. His work with the school included recruiting members of the Dallas Cowboys football team and Dallas Mavericks basketball team to give motivational speeches to the students. Ward also became a board member of Paul Quinn College, a historically black institution, and was instrumental in persuading Frito-Lay to donate $1 million in scholarship money to the school.
Joined Maytag
Although PepsiCo provided Ward with unique challenges, he still desired the opportunity to hold the top post at a large company. In 1996, Ward accepted the position as president of Maytag’s Appliances Division, a newly consolidated $2 billion-a-year unit of Maytag Corporation that encompassed the Maytag, Jenn-Air, Magic Chef, and Admiral home appliance brands. Generally, it was understood that Ward was being groomed as the heir apparent to Maytag chairman and chief executive officer Leonard A. Hadley. He also became Maytag’s only African American executive.
As a newcomer to the appliance industry, Ward brought a new set of expectations and a different approach to brand development from his years at P&G and Frito-Lay. Upon arriving at Maytag’s Newton, Iowa headquarters he found that the company, while maintaining strong brand recognition as a leader in quality, was losing market share on most of its products. Ward believed that the only way to improve Maytag’s market share was to convince consumers that appliances bearing the Maytag label were a good buy, even if they were more expensive than competing brands.
Ward quickly began the daunting task of bringing a more creative atmosphere to Maytag. He realigned the company’s management structure, shifting more responsibility to brand managers in charge of entire product segments. He also built a war room where company leaders could meet regularly to strategize. In 1997, under Ward’s guidance, Maytag launched its new Neptune water and energy-saving laundry system. Departing from the company’s low-key style, Ward organized a high-profile media event at New York’s Lincoln Center to unveil the Neptune line. The glitzy event featured appearances by four generations of TV moms, including Barbara Billingsley of Leave It to Beaver and Florence Henderson of The Brady Bunch. The Neptune, priced at $999, reversed a long-standing industry trend toward lower priced appliances. With the success of the Neptune washers, Ward succeeded in convincing consumers to replace other appliances with high-end replacements, including a double-oven range and an oven that cooks as fast as a microwave while maintaining traditional oven-cooked crispness.
Marked “Watershed Moments” for African Americans
In 1999 Lloyd Ward became the ninth chief executive of Maytag to fulfill his dream to head a Fortune 500 company. At the same time Ward became the second African American in history to lead a Fortune 500 company. Black Enterprise reported Ward’s appointment as a “watershed moment in the history of African Americans in corporate America.” At every stop along his climb—a climb that has by no means reached its peak—he has found ways to energize and motivate those around him. Colleagues continually comment on his ability to inspire others to set and achieve higher goals. Drawing on a metaphor from the basketball court, Ward summed up his approach to life in a 1995 interview in Black Enterprise: “I am a winner who understands that winning is important—it is critical… I believe in playing above the rim on the court, and in my career.” Indeed, upon his acceptance of the helm at Maytag, Ward declared that his objective would be “to be the best CEO on the planet,” according to Black Enterprise.
After fifteen months leading Maytag, Ward was offered a severance packet when revenues dropped. He soon became the chairman and CEO of the used car Web site iMotors.com, where his business unit brought in $100 million in sales but eventually went broke. By November 2001, Ward had moved again; this time to become the first African-American CEO of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC). Ward’s career took a sudden turn in December of 2002 when allegations of preferential treatment and misuse of funds by USOC officials surfaced. After three months of investigations, a senate hearing, and the resignation of several Committee officials, Ward also resigned because of the ethics controversy in March of 2003. Ward told Jet that “In the hope that we can shift the focus back to the athletes and the ideals of the Olympic movement, I have decided to resign,” adding that “I do so with a deeply ingrained belief that I have served the USOC and the Olympic movement constructively and with integrity.” The controversy did not defeat Ward’s resolve. In May of 2004, he became chairman of Body-Blocks Nutrition Systems, a maker of nutrition bars and energy drinks sold under the N Motion brand.
Sources
Periodicals
Appliance Manufacturer, August 1997, p. AHAM2.
Black Enterprise, June 1995, p. 214; August 1999; January 1, 2004; March 2, 2003, p. 61.
Brandweek, March 10, 1997, p. 38; March 24, 1997, p. 12; October 12, 1998, p. 88.
Jet, April 29, 1996, p. 11.
Wall Street Journal, November 26, 1996, p. B1.
On-line
BodyBlocks.com, www.bodyblocks.com (July 27, 2004).
“The Saga of Maytag’s Lloyd Ward,” BusinessWeek, www.businessweek.com/1999/99_32/b3641001.htm?scriptFramed (July 27, 2004).
—Robert R. Jacobson and Sara Pendergast
Ward, Lloyd 1949–
Lloyd Ward 1949–
Corporate executive
Brought New Wrinkles to Maytag
During a 1998 interview with Brandweek, Lloyd Ward issued this statement. “I challenge people to act differently, think differently. If better is possible, then good is not enough. You have to reach beyond what you think you can do.” As president of Maytag Corporation and throughout his illustrious career, Ward has challenged himself and those around him to exceed their own expectations. In the process, he has established himself as a rising star among business leaders.
Lloyd Ward was born on January 22, 1949 in Romulus, Michigan. One of five children, he learned the value of hard work early on from his parents, Sadie and Rubert Ward. His father supported the family by working three jobs: letter carrier, movie house janitor, and minister. When people accuse Ward of working too hard, he is quick to point out that his efforts pale in comparison to his father’s. “I’m still not working nearly as hard as my father did, and I will make in one year more than he made in a lifetime,” Ward was quoted as saying in a 1995 Black Enterprise profile.
Although Rubert Ward died when Lloyd was 18 years old, he still received plenty of inspiration. At the age of 50, his mother returned to school and earned her bachelor’s degree. She eventually received a master’s degree in social work. Through their example, Ward’s parents laid the foundation for his development into an individual who was willing to set lofty goals and expend the time and effort needed to attain them.
Sparkled at Proctor & Gamble
After graduating from high school, Ward enrolled at Michigan State University, where he honed his competitive edge as a standout member of the varsity basketball team. He received his B.S. in mechanical engineering from Michigan State in 1970, then signed on as a design engineer for paper products and packaging technology at Procter & Gamble. Ward spent 18 years at Proctor & Gamble and rose steadily through the corporate ranks. Along the way, he earned an MBA from Xavier University in 1984. In 1988, Ward was named general manager of Proctor & Gamble’s dish care products section. As general manager, he was responsible for the engineering, manufacturing, product development, advertising, and brand management of the company’s well-known dish care line.
At a Glance…
Born Jan. 22, 1949, in Romulus, Ml; son of Rubert (a letter carrier, janitor, and minister) and Sadie (a social worker) Ward; married Estralita “Lita” Ward, c. 1970; two sons. Education: Michigan State University, BS, 1970; Xavier University, MBA, 1984.
Career: Procter & Gamble, various positions, including design engineer, group leader, engineering manager, 1970-88, general manager for dish care products, 1988; PepsiCo., vice president of operations for Pepsi Cola East, 1988-91, president, Frito-Lay Western Division, 1991-92, president, Frito-Lay Central Division, 1992-96; Maytag Appliances, president and chief operating officer, 1996-.
Awards: Executive of the Year, Black Enterprise, 1995; America’s Best and Brightest Business and Professional Men and Women list, Dollars and Sense; Jack Breslin Lifetime Achievement Award, Michigan State University, 1996; Alumni of the Year, Michigan State University, 1998.
Addresses: Office— Maytag Corp., 403 W. 4th St. North, Newton, IA 50208.
“At P&G, I learned the importance and value of understanding the consumer and being market-driven,” Ward remarked in a 1998 Brandweek article. “It was about what was underneath the want and need, the ‘why’ beneath the want and need….Innovation should come from the consumer.” Although working at Proctor & Gamble provided Ward with valuable learning experiences, the company ultimately did not offer the long-term opportunities that Ward desired. As a result, he never felt that he could become a true leader at Proctor & Gamble.
Chipped In at Frito-Lay
In 1988, Ward left Proctor & Gamble and accepted a position with the Pepsi-Cola Co. as vice president of operations for Pepsi-Cola East. At Pepsi, he found plenty of room to build on his leadership aspirations. After only two years at the company, Ward was promoted to president of PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay Western Division in 1991. The following year, he advanced to president of Frito-Lay’s Central Division, its largest division. At the Central Division, Ward oversaw the operations of an entity that sold more than $1.3 billion worth of snacks per year. Comprised of 12 midwestern and south-central states, the Central Division employed 8,500 people in manufacturing, distribution, sales, and marketing.
In 1995, Ward was named Black Enterprise Executive of the Year. The magazine spoke lavishly of the energy and charisma he brings to every position he occupies. Frito-Lay CEO Steven Reinemund was quoted as saying in Black Enterprise, “He’s done a wonderful job with his team….Lloyd’s a very effective leader—charismatic, and energetic and very principled. People respond to that.”
As president of the Central Division, Ward was committed to working with the African American community in Dallas, the division’s home base. He and other members of his division adopted A. C. Maceo Smith High School, a predominantly African American school with a large number of “at-risk” students. His work with the school included recruiting members of the Dallas Cowboys football team and Dallas Mavericks basketball team to give motivational speeches to the students. Ward also became a board member of Paul Quinn College, a historically black institution, and was instrumental in persuading Frito-Lay to donate $ 1 million in scholarship money to the school.
Although PepsiCo provided Ward with unique challenges, he still desired the opportunity to hold the top post at a large company. In 1996, Ward accepted the position as president of Maytag’s Appliances Division, a newly consolidated $2 billion-a-year unit of Maytag Corporation that encompassed the Maytag, Jenn-Air, Magic Chef, and Admiral home appliance brands. Generally, it was understood that Ward was being groomed as the heir apparent to Maytag chairman and chief executive officer Leonard A. Hadley. He also became Maytag’s only African American executive.
Brought New Wrinkles to Maytag
As a newcomer to the appliance industry, Ward brought a new set of expectations and a different approach to brand development from his years at P&G and Frito-Lay. Upon arriving at Maytag’s Newton, Iowa headquarters he found that the company, while maintaining strong brand recognition as a leader in quality, was losing market share on most of its products. Ward believed that the only way to improve Maytag’s market share was to convince consumers that appliances bearing the Maytag label were a good buy, even if they were more expensive than competing brands.
Ward quickly began the daunting task of bringing a more creative atmosphere to Maytag. He realigned the company’s management structure, shifting more responsibility to brand managers in charge of entire product segments. He also built a war room where company leaders could meet regularly to strategize. In 1997, under Ward’s guidance, Maytag launched its new Neptune water and energy-saving laundry system. Departing from the company’s low-key style, Ward organized a high-profile media event at New York’s Lincoln Center to unveil the Neptune line. The glitzy event featured appearances by four generations of TV moms, including Barbara Billingsley of Leave It to Beaver and Florence Henderson of The Brady Bunch. The Neptune, priced at $999, reversed a long-standing industry trend toward lower priced appliances.
Still fairly young by corporate executive standards, Lloyd Ward is already living his dream to head a Fortune 500 company. At every stop along his climb—a climb that has by no means reached its peak—he has found ways to energize and motivate those around him. Colleagues continually comment on his ability to inspire others to set and achieve higher goals. Drawing on a metaphor from the basketball court, Ward summed up his approach to life in a 1995 interview in Black Enterprise: “I am a winner who understands that winning is important—it is critical….I believe in playing above the rim on the court, and in my career.”
Sources
Periodicals
Appliance Manufacturer, August 1997, p. AHAM2.
Black Enterprise, June 1995, p. 214.
Brandweek, March 10, 1997, p. 38; March 24, 1997, p. 12; October 12, 1998, p. 88.
Jet, April 29, 1996, p. 11.
Wall Street Journal, November 26, 1996, p. B1.
—Robert R. Jacobson