James E. Burke

Entrepreneur

Birthday February 28, 1925

Birth Sign Pisces

Birthplace Vermont

DEATH DATE Sep 28, 2012 (87)

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About

CEO of Johnson & Johnson who led the company's rise and handled its stumble with the Tylenol poisonings of the 1980s.

Before Fame

He was troubled in his early years at Johnson & Johnson by what he saw as a company-wide distancing from its credo to focus on the customer, so he challenged everyone to recommit themselves.

Trivia

He ordered a recall of all Tylenol pills after several were found to be spiked with deadly cyanide. This was at a cost of approximately $100 million. He admitted he should have acted sooner.

Family Life

He had one daughter with his wife Didi.

Associated With

He was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award, by Bill Clinton.