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| Inducted: |
1990 |
| Region: |
Northeast |
| Industry: |
Health
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James E. Burke became Johnson & Johnson's chief executive in 1976. The company had thousands of products, among them Tylenol, which had a remarkable 35 percent share of the analgesic market and accounted for an estimated 15 percent to 20 percent of the company's earnings. Two incidents of cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules four years apart dropped the market share to 7 percent. Burke’s swift action avoided further such situations and Tylenol climbed back to its 35 percent share of the market. Burke also invested in new products such as Retin-A and disposable contact lenses. |
