William Charles Schultz (July 30, 1926 – September 21, 2006) was an American engineer who was CEO of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation from 1981 to 2005.
Schultz is credited as the "man who saved Fender" for overseeing the company's return to profitability and expansion after its sale by CBS in 1985.
[2] In 1981, Schultz was working at Yamaha when he was asked by John C. McLaren, then-president of CBS Musical Instruments, to become the president of Fender.
Schultz established Fender's manufacturing facility in Corona, California and in 1991 moved the company headquarters to Scottsdale, Arizona in 1991.
Schultz (and through him, Fender) became a major donor to Duquesne University, which honored him in 2001 with a Lifetime Achievement Award and a week of concerts.