Lew Platt

Lew Platt
Name	Lew Platt
Birth date	11 April 1941
Birth place	Johnson City, New York
Death date	8 September 2005
Death place	Palo Alto, California
Education	Cornell University (BS), University of Pennsylvania (MBA)
Occupation	Business executive
Known for	CEO of Hewlett-Packard, CEO of The Boeing Company
Spouse	Joan Platt, 1963, 2005

Lew Platt was an American business executive who served as the chief executive officer of Hewlett-Packard during a pivotal period of growth and later led The Boeing Company. A respected figure in Silicon Valley and corporate America, his leadership was characterized by a commitment to the HP Way and operational excellence. Platt's career spanned decades at Hewlett-Packard before he was recruited to stabilize Boeing Commercial Airplanes following a production crisis.

Early life and education

He was born in Johnson City, New York, and demonstrated an early aptitude for engineering. Platt earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Cornell University in 1964. He subsequently pursued a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1966. His educational background provided a strong foundation in both technical and managerial disciplines, which would define his approach to leadership in technology manufacturing.

Career at Hewlett-Packard

Platt joined Hewlett-Packard in 1966 as a marketing engineer, beginning a nearly three-decade tenure with the company. He rose through various management roles within the company's medical and analytical instrumentation divisions, including a significant stint leading the Boise, Idaho operations. In 1992, he was named president and chief operating officer under then-CEO John A. Young. Following Young's retirement, the board of directors appointed him chief executive officer in 1992 and chairman in 1993. During his tenure as CEO, he oversaw the spin-off of the company's measurement and components businesses into Agilent Technologies and navigated the challenges of the rapidly evolving personal computer market. He was also instrumental in expanding Hewlett-Packard's presence in the consumer electronics and enterprise computing sectors.

CEO of Boeing

In 1999, after retiring from Hewlett-Packard, Platt was recruited to become chairman, president, and chief executive officer of The Boeing Company. He succeeded Phil Condit during a tumultuous period marked by severe production delays and manufacturing inefficiencies, particularly within the Boeing 737 and Boeing 747 programs. His mandate was to restore operational discipline and improve strained relations with major suppliers like Spirit AeroSystems and airline customers such as American Airlines and British Airways. Platt focused on streamlining the supply chain and reinforcing a culture of quality and safety, laying crucial groundwork for the eventual success of programs like the Boeing 777. He stepped down as CEO in 2003 but remained on the board of directors until 2004.

Later career and board memberships

Following his time at Boeing, Platt remained active in corporate governance and advisory roles. He served on the boards of several prominent organizations, including Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates and the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. He was also a senior advisor to the private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.. Platt dedicated time to academic institutions, contributing his expertise to the advisory boards of the Stanford Graduate School of Business and his alma mater, the Wharton School.

Personal life and death

He married Joan Platt in 1963, and the couple had three children. Platt was known for his low-key, approachable management style and was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fly fishing. He was a resident of Palo Alto, California for many years. Lew Platt died of a brain aneurysm on September 8, 2005, at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, California.

Legacy and honors

Platt is remembered as a steady leader who upheld the core values of decentralization and integrity embodied by the HP Way. His crisis management at Boeing Commercial Airplanes is credited with helping to return the company to a stable footing. In recognition of his contributions, he received the IEEE Founders Medal in 1996. The Lew H. Platt Distinguished Service Award was established at Wharton to honor alumni for exemplary professional and community service, ensuring his legacy of principled leadership endures.

Category:American chief executives Category:1941 births Category:2005 deaths Category:Hewlett-Packard people Category:The Boeing Company people