John A. Young

John A. Young was an American business executive who served as the president and chief executive officer of Hewlett-Packard from 1978 to 1992, a period of significant growth and transformation for the technology giant. Under his leadership, HP expanded its global reach, entered the competitive personal computer market, and became a dominant force in the computer printer industry. He was also a prominent figure in national policy, serving on the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and chairing the influential Council on Competitiveness.

Early life and education

John Young was born in Nampa, Idaho, and raised in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. He displayed an early aptitude for engineering and technology, which led him to pursue a degree in electrical engineering at Oregon State University, graduating in 1953. Following his undergraduate studies, he served as an officer in the United States Navy. After his military service, Young earned a Master of Business Administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1958, a move that positioned him for a career in the burgeoning Silicon Valley technology sector.

Career at Hewlett-Packard

Young joined Hewlett-Packard in 1958 as a marketing engineer, shortly after completing his MBA. He rose steadily through the company's ranks, holding various management positions in marketing and divisional operations. His early work involved the company's core electronic test equipment business. By the late 1960s, he was managing one of HP's major divisions, and in 1974, he was appointed executive vice president, joining the company's executive committee. His trajectory placed him as a key successor to the company's legendary founders, Bill Hewlett and David Packard.

Leadership and tenure as CEO

Appointed president in 1977 and CEO in 1978, Young succeeded founders Bill Hewlett and David Packard at a critical juncture. He aggressively pushed Hewlett-Packard into the personal computer business, launching the successful HP Touchscreen PC and the HP Vectra line to compete with IBM and Apple Inc.. His most transformative decision was to commercialize the inkjet printer technology invented at HP Labs, leading to the launch of the DeskJet printer in 1988, which revolutionized the printing industry and created a massive, profitable consumables business. During his tenure, he also oversaw a major corporate restructuring to improve efficiency and navigated the challenges of the minicomputer market decline. HP's revenue grew from under $3 billion to over $16 billion during his leadership.

Post-HP career and other roles

After retiring from Hewlett-Packard in 1992, Young remained active in public service and corporate governance. He had previously served on the White House Science Council under President Ronald Reagan. From 1990 to 1992, he chaired the Council on Competitiveness, a private-sector group focused on United States economic policy. He served on the boards of several major corporations, including Intel, Novell, and Philips. In academia, he was a longtime member of the Stanford University Board of Trustees and served as chairman of the Salem Hospital board in Oregon.

Personal life and legacy

John Young married Esther "Jill" Hubbard in 1954, and they had three children together. He was known for his quiet, analytical management style, a contrast to the more charismatic approaches of some contemporaries. His legacy is defined by successfully transitioning Hewlett-Packard from a revered instrument company into a global information technology powerhouse, with the inkjet printer business standing as his most enduring and profitable innovation. He received numerous honors, including the IEEE Founders Medal and induction into the Silicon Valley Engineering Council Hall of Fame.

Category:1932 births Category:2022 deaths Category:American chief executives Category:Hewlett-Packard people Category:Stanford Graduate School of Business alumni Category:Oregon State University alumni