| (1870
- 1954) |
| Inducted: |
1981 |
| Region: |
MidWest |
| Industry: |
Engineering
|
|
Pierre duPont transformed an antiquated powder company into a vast modern corporation with strong financial controls and a forward-looking strategy. Pierre harnessed the chemicals used in explosives to make less lethal products and poured DuPont's huge World War I profits into diversification, including huge blocks of General Motors stock. He reorganized GM's chaotic finances and changed the product line, placing Cadillac at the top and Chevrolet at the bottom. More importantly, he selected Alfred P. Sloan as chief financial administrator, and ultimate successor, because Sloan believed in the scientific-management system Pierre had installed at DuPont. |
