Date of Birth: January 22, 1910
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
Date of Death: November 21, 1997
Biography
Harold S. Geneen was an influential American businessman renowned for his leadership at International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation (ITT) during the 1960s and 1970s. Born in Bournemouth, England, Geneen moved to the United States with his family when he was a child. He began his career in accounting and gradually climbed the corporate ladder, demonstrating exceptional managerial skills and a visionary approach to business. Geneen’s tenure at ITT was marked by aggressive expansion and diversification. Under his leadership, ITT grew from a modest-sized business into a sprawling conglomerate with interests in telecommunications, insurance, hotels, and more. His management style was characterized by rigorous financial controls, detailed reporting systems, and a hands-on approach that kept him informed of every aspect of the company’s operations. Despite the controversies and criticisms surrounding some of ITT’s business practices, Geneen’s impact on corporate management and governance is undeniable. He authored several books on management, sharing his insights and philosophies with future generations of business leaders. Harold S. Geneen passed away on November 21, 1997, leaving behind a legacy of innovation and transformation in the corporate world.
5 Interesting Facts about Harold S. Geneen
1. Harold S. Geneen transformed ITT from a $765 million company to a $17 billion conglomerate during his tenure.
2. He pioneered the use of detailed financial reporting systems, which became a standard in corporate management.
3. Geneen was known for his intense work ethic, often working 12-hour days and expecting the same dedication from his executives.
4. He authored several influential books on management, including “Managing” and “The Synergy Myth.”
5. Geneen’s leadership style and corporate strategies were both praised for their effectiveness and criticized for their aggressiveness.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Harold S. Geneen
1. “The five essential entrepreneurial skills for success are concentration, discrimination, organization, innovation, and communication.”
2. “In business, words are words; explanations are explanations, promises are promises, but only performance is reality.”
3. “Management manages by making decisions and by seeing that those decisions are implemented.”
4. “The essence of management is making difficult things simple, not making simple things difficult.”
5. “The professional’s grasp of the problem was always in inverse proportion to the number of equations he could write about it.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the peak of his career, Harold S. Geneen’s net worth was estimated to be around $100 million.
Children
Harold S. Geneen was married to June Geneen, and they had one daughter, Victoria Geneen.
Relevant Links
1. [Harold S. Geneen – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Geneen
4. [Harold Geneen Quotes – BrainyQuote](https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/harold-s-geneen-quotes
5. [Harold S. Geneen – The Internationalist](https://www.internationalist.org/harold-geneen.html
