David Kearns

David Kearns was an American business executive and government official best known for leading Xerox through a major corporate turnaround in the 1980s. His tenure as CEO is noted for pioneering Total Quality Management principles and restoring the company's competitive position against rivals like Canon and Ricoh. Following his corporate career, he served as Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Education under President George H. W. Bush and was a prominent advocate for education reform and national standards.

Early life and education

He was born in Rochester, New York, and attended local public schools. Kearns earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration from the University of Rochester in 1952. During his time at university, he was a member of the Navy ROTC and subsequently served as an officer in the United States Navy aboard the USS ''Newport News''. His early professional experience included a brief stint with IBM in Poughkeepsie, New York, before joining the Rochester-based Xerox corporation.

Career at Xerox

He began his long association with Xerox in 1971, initially holding various marketing and management positions. Kearns rose through the ranks to become president in 1977 and was named CEO in 1982, succeeding C. Peter McColough. Facing intense competition from Japanese manufacturers like Canon and Ricoh, he initiated a comprehensive corporate transformation. He championed the adoption of Total Quality Management principles, often credited to management thinkers like W. Edwards Deming, which became known as the "Leadership Through Quality" program at Xerox. This strategic shift helped the company regain market share and improve product reliability, culminating in Xerox winning the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 1989. He served as chairman from 1985 until his retirement from the company in 1990.

Government service

Following his corporate career, he was appointed by President George H. W. Bush as Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Education in 1991, serving under Secretary Lamar Alexander. In this role, he was a key architect of the administration's education strategy, advocating for the America 2000 initiative which promoted national education goals and school choice. He worked closely with figures like Diane Ravitch and focused on systemic reforms, including the development of voluntary national standards in subjects like history and mathematics. His tenure coincided with significant debates over the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the role of the federal government in education.

Later career and philanthropy

After leaving the Department of Education, he remained active in public policy and corporate boards. He served as chairman of the New American Schools Development Corporation, a private-sector effort supporting the America 2000 goals. Kearns also held board positions at Ford Motor Company, Lucent Technologies, and MetLife, and taught as a visiting professor at the Harvard Business School. His philanthropic efforts were largely channeled through the University of Rochester and the United Way of America. He co-authored the book "Winning the Brain Race: A Bold Plan to Make Our Schools Competitive" with Denis Doyle, further articulating his views on education reform.

Personal life

He was married to Shirley Kearns for over five decades, and the couple had four children. A lifelong resident of the Rochester area, he was an active member of the community, supporting local institutions like the University of Rochester Medical Center. He enjoyed sailing on Lake Ontario and was a member of the Rochester Yacht Club. Following a period of illness, he died at his home in Pittsford, New York, in 2011. His legacy is remembered through fellowships and programs at the University of Rochester and his impact on corporate management and education policy.

Category:American chief executives Category:American businesspeople Category:1930 births Category:2011 deaths