In my 30 years with The Budd Company I was fortunate to work with many great executives. They were great because they cared not only about the company, but the people that worked there.
If an executive at Budd did not care about people, he did not last long.
This "people first" philosophy came from the top down. I knew three Budd Chairmen... Gil Richards, Jim McNeal and Sigi Buschmann. You noticed I said: Gil, Jim and Sigi. That's because they were your friends and they wanted to be addressed like one.
These three chairmen came from different backgrounds. Gil was the ultimate salesman. Jim was a manufacturing expert. And Sigi was financial savvy.
Yet all three were people oriented.
Gil Richards would routinely walk the halls of Budd in Troy asking secretaries, clerks and supervisors what THEY thought about the company, its products and its top management.
As part of the Public Affairs Department, I was honored to organize a "Breakfast with the Chairman" program for Jim and, subsequently, Sigi. Each month or so, the chairman would visit a company plant or facility to answer questions from the rank and file as well as listen to their concerns.
The first round of questions were formal, pre-submitted so appropriate responses could be prepared. However, the second round of questions were spontaneously and unrehearsed. Manytimes, information meant only for the Boardroom would be discussed in these meetings. Perhaps some of you participated in these breakfast meetings.
I was honored to know three of the six Budd chairmen in its 90-year history. How many of you knew all six?
Who was your favorite Budd executive...and why. Tell us about it in the Budd Company Blogger.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
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